It's winner takes all as Senegal face Ecuador, with a Round of 16 spot waiting if either side can grab all three points.
With Netherlands leading Group A and expected to sweep the already eliminated Qatar team aside, the runners-up spot in Group A is all to play for.
Ecuador have the advantage: a draw will be enough for them. Senegal simply must win or — bar a freak result between the hosts and the Netherlands — they'll be flying back home.
Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the match.
MORE: Netherlands vs. Qatar live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Group A match
Ecuador vs Senegal lineups
Gustavo Alfaro has insisted his Ecuador team won't simply play for a draw on Tuesday. Alfaro wants to go into the Round of 16 winning.
Enner Valencia's three goals in Qatar have only been matched by France superstar Kylian Mbappe. The Ecuador captain fired two past Qatar and another against the Netherlands.
The striker has been the target of some tough tackles and admitted he "played with pain" during their second match — going off on a stretcher in the final minutes. A knee sprain was the diagnosis.
But Valencia has been passed fit to start against Senegal. Alfaro said: "He has a big heart and wants to be in every battle for our national team. His leadership is something that we always need."
Alfaro has made two changes, with Alan Franco and Carlos Gruezo coming into the side alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, replacing Jackson Porozo and the suspended Jhegson Sebastian Mendez.
For Senegal, Cheikhou Kouyate remains absent after being carried off on a stretcher in his nation's opener.
Pape Gueye, Pathe Ciss and Iliman Ndiaye come into the side, with Nampalys Mendy, Krepin Diatta and Famara Diedhiou dropping out.
Here are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Ecuador confirmed starting 11
Ecuador (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Galindez (GK) — 17. Preciado, 2. F. Torres, 3. Hincapie, 7. Estupinan — 21. Franco, 8. Gruezo, 23. Caicedo — 19. Plata, 11. Estrada, 13. Valencia.
- Suspended: Jhegson Mendez
Senegal confirmed starting 11
(4-2-3-1, right to left): 16. E. Mendy (GK) — 21. Sabaly, 3. Koulibaly, 14. Jakobs, 22. Diallo — 26. P Gueye, 5. I. Gueye — 11. P Ciss, 18. I. Sarr, 13. Ndiaye — 9. Dia
- Injured: Cheikhou Kouyate, Sadio Mane (out for tournament)
- Suspended: None
Senegal's attacking plans were obliterated when Sadio Mane was ruled out of the 2022 tournament. Now their midfield has taken a hit too, with Cheikhou Kouyate injured.
The Nottingham Forest star landed awkwardly after challenging for the ball during the opener against Netherlands, and was taken off on a stretcher. He was sidelined for the Qatar game and will miss the Ecuador match as well.
Ecuador vs Senegal World Cup squads
Here are all the names on Ecuador and Senegal's current World Cup squad in Qatar (Caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):
Ecuador
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Alexander Dominguez | Deportes Tolima (ECU) | 35 | 67 |
| Goalkeeper | Hernan Galindez | Aucas (ECU) | 35 | 12 |
| Goalkeeper | Moises Ramirez | Independiente (ECU) | 22 | 2 |
| Defender | Robert Arboleda | Sao Paulo (BRA) | 31 | 32 |
| Defender | Xavier Arreaga | Seattle Sounders (USA) | 28 | 17 |
| Defender | Pervis Estupinan | Brighton (ENG) | 24 | 28 |
| Defender | Piero Hincapie | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 20 | 21 |
| Defender | William Pacho | Royal Antwerp (BEL) | 21 | 0 |
| Defender | Diego Palacios | LAFC (USA) | 23 | 11 |
| Defender | Jackson Porozo | Troyes (FRA) | 22 | 5 |
| Defender | Angelo Preciado | Genk (BEL) | 24 | 25 |
| Defender | Felix Torres | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 25 | 16 |
| Midfielder | Moises Caicedo | Brighton (ENG) | 20 | 25 |
| Midfielder | Jose Cifuentes | LAFC (USA) | 23 | 10 |
| Midfielder | Alan Franco | Talleres (ARG) | 24 | 23 |
| Midfielder | Carlos Gruezo | Augsburg (GER) | 27 | 45 |
| Midfielder | Jhegson Mendez | LAFC (USA) | 25 | 31 |
| Midfielder | Ayrton Preciado | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 28 | 27 |
| Midfielder | Jeremy Sarmiento | Brighton (ENG) | 20 | 9 |
| Forward | Michael Estrada | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 26 | 36 |
| Forward | Romario Ibarra | Pachuca (MEX) | 28 | 24 |
| Forward | Angel Mena | Club Leon (MEX) | 34 | 45 |
| Forward | Gonzalo Plata | Real Valladolid (SPA) | 21 | 29 |
| Forward | Djorkaeff Reasco | Newell's Old Boys (ARG) | 23 | 3 |
| Forward | Kevin Rodriguez | Imbabura SC (ECU) | 22 | 0 |
| Forward | Enner Valencia | Fenerbahce (TUR) | 33 | 74 |
Senegal
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Edouard Mendy | Chelsea (ENG) | 30 | 25 |
| Goalkeeper | Alfred Gomis | Rennes (FRA) | 29 | 14 |
| Goalkeeper | Seny Dieng | QPR (ENG) | 27 | 3 |
| Defender | Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
| Defender | Pape Abou Cisse | Olympiacos (GRE) | 27 | 12 |
| Defender | Abdou Diallo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 18 |
| Defender | Fode Ballo-Toure | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 14 |
| Defender | Formose Mendy | Amiens (FRA) | 21 | 2 |
| Defender | Ismail Jakobs | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 1 |
| Defender | Youssouf Sabaly | Real Betis (SPA) | 29 | 24 |
| Defender | Moussa Ndiaye | Anderlecht (BEL) | 20 | 0 |
| Midfielder | Idrissa Gueye | Everton (ENG) | 33 | 95 |
| Midfielder | Cheikhou Kouyate | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 32 | 82 |
| Midfielder | Nampalys Mendy | Leicester City (ENG) | 30 | 18 |
| Midfielder | Pape Gueye | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 11 |
| Midfielder | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham (ENG) | 20 | 8 |
| Midfielder | Mamadou Loum N'Diaye | Reading (ENG) | 25 | 3 |
| Midfielder | Moustapha Name | Pafos (CYP) | 27 | 6 |
| Midfielder | Pathe Ciss | Rayo Vallecano (SPA) | 28 | 0 |
| Forward | Ismalia Sarr | Watford (ENG) | 24 | 47 |
| Forward | Boulaye Dia | Salernitana (ITA) | 25 | 18 |
| Forward | Bamba Dieng | Marseille (FRA) | 22 | 12 |
| Forward | Iliman Ndiaye | Sheffield United (ENG) | 27 | 14 |
| Forward | Famara Diedhou | Alanyaspor (TUR) | 29 | 24 |
| Forward | Krepin Diatta | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 25 |
| Forward | Nicolas Jackson | Villarreal (SPA) | 21 | 22 |
