2001 in Ecuadorian football

The 2001 season was the 79th season of competitive football in Ecuador.

Serie A

 * Champion: Emelec (9th title)
 * International cup qualifiers:
 * 2002 Copa Libertadores: Emelec, El Nacional, Olmedo
 * Relegated: Delfín, LDU Portoviejo

Serie B

 * Winner: LDU Quito (2nd title)
 * Promoted: LDU Quito, Deportivo Cuenca
 * Relegated: Deportivo Quevedo

Segunda

 * Winner: Manta
 * Promoted: Manta

Senior team
The Ecuador national team played in fourteen matches in 2001: eight FIFA World Cup qualifiers, three Copa América matches, and three friendlies. At the end of the year, the team qualified for their first FIFA World Cup.

2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Ecuador finished their qualifying campaign to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. They finished 2nd in the region, behind Argentina and ahead of Brazil, to qualify to their first FIFA World Cup.

Copa América
Ecuador was drawn into Group A with hosts Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela. After finishing third in the group, as well has the third best third-place team, they were eliminated in the Group Stage.