Ecuador aims to turn Qatar's pain into glory at 2026 World Cup

Ecuador's national football team, known as La Tri, is poised to begin its 2026 World Cup campaign against Ivory Coast. Head coach Sebastián Beccacece emphasized the team's growth and maturity following their disappointing 2022 World Cup exit. "They have learned what the pain of an elimination means. One always takes note of what one does not want to happen again," he stated during a press conference in Philadelphia.

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They have learned what the pain of an elimination means. One always takes note of what one does not want to happen again.

The team arrived from Columbus, Ohio, where they had established their training base. Beccacece believes the experience in Qatar has strengthened the squad, fostering a new perspective for the current tournament. "It implies great responsibility and maximum concentration. Based on that, we have confidence to start writing our own history," he added.

The memory of the 2022 World Cup, where Ecuador narrowly missed advancing to the knockout stage after a final-day loss to Senegal, remains a significant motivator. Beccacece anticipates a demanding match against Ivory Coast, describing them as a team with "young talent, individual quality, and players who compete at the highest level."

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It implies great responsibility and maximum concentration. Based on that, we have confidence to start writing our own history.

Ecuador enters the World Cup with an impressive 19-game unbeaten streak dating back to September 2024. However, Beccacece remains grounded, acknowledging the streak as a foundation but stressing its irrelevance for upcoming matches. "It brought us here and it's a strength, but from tomorrow it doesn't count. It neither adds nor subtracts," he explained, highlighting the challenge of maintaining this continuity.

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This rival will demand equal or more than Senegal. It is a young team, with a lot of individual quality and players who compete at the highest level.

Beccacece also touched upon the emotional support from the Ecuadorian community in the United States. He noted that the team serves as a connection to home for expatriates. "The people who had to migrate from Ecuador can now reconnect with their roots. Those who are far away miss their country greatly, and seeing the national team reminds them of their history," he expressed, underscoring the pride and motivation derived from representing millions of Ecuadorians.

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It brought us here and it's a strength, but from tomorrow it doesn't count. It neither adds nor subtracts. What it did allow us was to find a foundation on which to build. The great challenge is to demonstrate that we can sustain that continuity.