Ecuador will participate in the World Cup in Qatar after Byron Castillo’s eligibility was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Tuesday, following an appeal by the football federations of Chile and Peru against a FIFA ruling, CAS announced its ruling in the arbitration procedure.

However, Ecuador will receive a three-point punishment when the next round of World Cup qualifiers begins and will be fined $100,000 Swiss Francs ($101,605) for using a document that contained fraudulent information, according to CAS.

Castillo’s ability to participate in Ecuador’s World Cup qualifying games in Qatar from September 2021 to March 2022 had been at the center of the argument.

Chile had asserted that Castillo was not born at General Villamil Playas, Ecuador in 1998 as shown on his official documents, but rather in Tumaco, Colombia in 1995.

On June 10, FIFA cleared the Ecuadorian FA of all charges, but Chile and Peru appealed to the Swiss court.

As the best CONMEBOL runner-up, Peru, who had placed fifth in South American qualifying, had requested that Ecuador be replaced in Qatar. Chile requested that the eight qualifiers in which Castillo competed be declared void, putting them in the fourth spot that would have qualified them for the tournament.

However, a panel determined that “no infringement of the rules on eligibility has occurred” following a CAS hearing on November 4 and 5.

Castillo’s Ecuadorian passport “was undoubtedly authentic,” according to CAS, which added that “Ecuadorian authorities accepted Byron Castillo as an Ecuadorian national”.

Along with Qatar, Senegal, and the Netherlands, Ecuador was placed in Group A and will face the hosts when the World Cup begins on November 20.

The most recent International Team from Ecuador

Goalkeepers: Hernan Galindez (Aucas), Moises Ramirez (Independiente del Valle), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Gonzalo Valle (Guayaquil City) 

Defenders: Pervis Estupinan (Brighton), Angelo Preciado (Genk), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (LAFC), Byron Castillo (Leon), Fernando Leon (Atletico San Luis), Jackson Porozo (Troyes), William Pacho (Antwerp)

Midfielders: Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg), Angel Mena (Leon), Jhegson Mendez (LAFC), Gonzalo Plata (Real Valladolid), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca), Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Alan Franco (Talleres), Jose Cifuentes (LAFC), Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton), Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht), Patrickson Delgado (Jong Ajax), Anthony Valencia (Antwerp)

Forwards: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce), Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), Djorkaeff Reasco (Newell’s Old Boys)

Ecuador’s recent call-ups

Goalkeepers: Jorge Pinos (9 de Octubre), Pedro Ortiz (Emelec), Gabriel Cevallos (Guayaquil City)

Only once in its history has Ecuador progressed past that point. They defeated Poland and Costa Rica in their opening two games in 2006 to finish second to the host nation Germany, falling short to a David Beckham free kick against England in the second round.

On the first day of the competition, they will face Qatar and face a host nation once again. Realistically, one would assume that in order for them to advance, they would need to win that game and avoid losing to Senegal.

Many of the players on their roster are from the United States and Europe. Moises Caicedo and Jeremy Sarmiento, two of their most recent call-ups, both play in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion.