Future Arsenal twins star at South American u17 Championship

Future Arsenal twins star at South American u17 Championship

Future Arsenal youngsters Edwin and Holger Quintero are impressing at the 2026 South American u17 Championship, helping Ecuador to the semi-finals.

Photo via Arsenal.com

In late 2025, Arsenal confirmed their agreement to complete the double signing of twin brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente del Valle.

As the pair are currently just 16 years old, neither will formally link up with Arsenal until August 2027, when they’re both 18. In the meantime, they’re continuing their development in Ecuador, which includes playing for the Ecuador u17s at this month’s South American u17 Championship.

Of Ecuador’s four games at the tournament so far, the brothers have alternated starts. Holger made the lineup against Paraguay and Uruguay, whilst Edwin started against Colombia and Chile.

Photo via IDV.formatives on Instagram

In the first game of the tournament against Paraguay, Holger bagged a vital late goal in the 92nd minute, firing a free-kick (won by substitute Edwin) under the wall.

Holger had also won the free-kick leading to Ecuador’s equaliser 11 minutes earlier, with Edwin taking it. Edwin’s looping cross was headed back across by Deinner Ordonez, with Mathews Soto finishing the chance. The brothers certainly played a vital part in that opening-game win.

Edwin then started the second game against Colombia, with Holger coming on for the final 19 minutes, but neither could break the deadlock in a frustrating 0-0 draw.

But Holger again helped to make the difference in the third match against Uruguay, standing up his man on the left-wing before firing in a low cross for Steven Guerrero to score a 67th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory.

Then, in the final game of the group stage on Sunday night, Edwin scored a curling effort from outside the penalty area as Ecuador won 3-1 against Chile.

The same player did then have a penalty saved later in the half, but it ultimately didn’t matter as Ecuador secured the three points and topped their group.

Ecuador will now face Argentina in the semi-finals of the tournament, with Brazil playing Colombia in the other game. The two semi-finals will take place on Thursday, April 16th, before the third-place play-off and final are played on Sunday, April 19th.

Ecuador’s results so far have also qualified them for the u17 World Cup, which will take place in November. Given they didn’t qualify for the u17 World Cup last year, this represents a return to the main stage for the Quinteros’ national team.