ECU
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP E · POT 2

Ecuador
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Sebastián Beccacece · Argentine head coach since 2024 (aged 45). Former Argentina assistant under Sampaoli with managerial spells at clubs including Defensa y Justicia and Racing Club — a 4-3-3 specialist.
MD1 Jun 14 vs Ivory Coast MD2 Jun 20 vs Curaçao MD3 Jun 25 vs Germany
4th World Cup appearance · best finish: Round of 16 (2006)
26
Squad size
25.6
Avg. age
24 / 26
Overseas-based
13 / 13
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Sebastián Beccacece's (Argentine) Ecuador announced their final 26 on June 1. This is their fourth World Cup overall — not a consecutive run, as they missed out on 2010 and 2018. Anchored by Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea, a British-record signing at the time) and reinforced by European top-flight youth, the realistic target is to surpass the 2006 R16 berth.

Spine: captain Enner Valencia (36, all-time top scorer with 49 goals) + Caicedo + Piero Hincapié (Arsenal) + Willian Pacho (PSG, CL winner) + Pervis Estupiñán (Milan) + Kendry Páez (19-year-old prodigy, a Chelsea player on loan at River Plate). A Premier League/Serie A/La Liga-loaded squad.

Group E opponents: Ivory Coast, Curaçao, Germany. June 14 vs CIV (Philly) → June 20 vs CUW (KC) → June 25 vs GER (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey). The Germany match has added intrigue with Hincapié facing former Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Beccacece's preferred 4-3-3. Caicedo (Chelsea) anchors with Páez (19yo prodigy) and Alan Franco as 8s. Front three: Plata, Valencia (captain), Angulo. CB pair: Hincapié (Arsenal) + Pacho (PSG, Champions League winner). Estupiñán (Milan) + Preciado at full-back.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

13
ST · FW
Enner Valencia
Pachuca · 36
105 caps · 49G WC: 2014, 2022
Captain & all-time top scorer (49 goals)
CAPTAIN
23
CDM · MF
Moisés Caicedo
Chelsea · 24 · Premier League
60 caps · 3G WC: 2022
Chelsea's midfield anchor
ACE
3
CB · DF
Piero Hincapié
Arsenal · 24 · Premier League
51 caps · 3G WC: 2022
Arsenal's left-footed CB
6
CB · DF
Willian Pacho
Paris Saint-Germain · 24 · Ligue 1
34 caps · 2G WC: 2022
PSG's CL-winning CB
10
CAM · MF
Kendry Páez
River Plate · 19
26 caps · 2G WC debut
19yo prodigy (Chelsea player on loan at River Plate)
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 7
GROUP E

GROUP E.

GER
Germany
POT 1
CUW
Curaçao
POT 4
CIV
Ivory Coast
POT 3
ECU
Ecuador
POT 2
Sun, Jun 14
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, PA
Ecuador's fourth World Cup opens vs 2024 AFCON champions Ivory Coast in Philadelphia. Caicedo, Pacho and Hincapié must contain Kessié + Adingra.
View lineups →
MD1
Sat, Jun 20
Curaçao vs Ecuador
Kansas City Stadium · Kansas City, MO
Kansas City vs debutants Curaçao. Caicedo's midfield control and Valencia's finishing target three points.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Germany vs Ecuador
MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford, NJ
Group decider vs Germany (Pot 1, with Wirtz and Havertz). Hincapié faces his former Leverkusen team-mate Wirtz — a tactically intriguing fixture.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Foxborough vs 3rd place (A/B/C/D/F)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Philadelphia vs Winner of Match 77
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 90
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group I
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 76
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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