Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez was fired following Thursday’s Copa America quarter-final defeat to Argentina.

His coaching staff was also fired.

“We thank Felix and his coaching staff for their work and professionalism and wish him success in his future endeavors,” the Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a statement.

Sanchez, 48, signed a four-year contract with Ecuador in 2023. Under the Spaniard, Ecuador have performed impressively in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup so far, finishing fifth in the South American table, ahead of the likes of Brazil, Chile and Peru.

However, after reaching the quarter-finals for the third time in the last four Copa America tournaments, Ecuador were eliminated by defending champions Argentina on penalties 4–2 following a 1–1 draw in regular time.

“We managed to get from the group stage to the knockout stage. I congratulated the players, even if we didn’t make it through,” Sanchez told reporters after the match, before his dismissal.

“I think they deserve recognition, that’s my opinion. … They are very young players. Maybe the results were unfair, but I know we have to believe in this group of players.”

–Field Level Media