For a side which wrapped up qualification with a game to spare, Ecuador’s road to Qatar World Cup 2022 has been fraught with complications.
Manager Jordi Cruyff left his post before taking charge of a match, leaving Gustavo Alfaro to assume control on the eve of the qualifiers.
That process began with a narrow defeat in Argentina to a Lionel Messi penalty but, by the time the teams reconvened in Quito a whopping 17 games later, Alfaro had led his side to Qatar.
Home form provided the foundations, but away wins in Bolivia and Chile proved priceless. It was the latter who provided an unexpected barrier after the qualifying campaign had seemingly wrapped up, with the Chilean Football Federation alleging that Ecuador had qualified via the use of an ineligible player: Byron Castillo.
A Fifa investigation threw out the Chilean claim that Castillo was, in fact, Colombian and had falsified his passport.
With the controversy apparently put to bed – though Chile continued to appeal the decision – Alfaro could set about planning for the tournament in Qatar, where his crop of players are well equipped to spring a surprise. Brighton midfielder Moise Caicedo is emblematic of his country’s approach: young, gifted, physically unforgiving.
A natural born organiser at just 20, the Seagulls midfielder ties together a powerful, pacey 4-3-3 approach headlined by all-time leading goalscorer Enner Valencia and led in attack by the imposing Michael Estrada.
Further back, Pervis Estupinan – who joined Caicedo at Brighton in August to replace the departed Marc Cucurella – is another energetic presence to watch closely, while Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen is a front-foot, left-sided central defender who has been quietly turning heads in the Bundesliga. All in all, this is an energetic young collective which demands respect.
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro
Star player: Moises Caicedo
One to watch: Piero Hincapie
World Cup finals appeared in: 2002, 2006, 2014
Fixtures: Nov 20 - Qatar v Ecuador; Nov 25 - Netherlands v Ecuador; Nov 29 - Ecuador v Senegal
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Naga
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'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
