Ecuador coach Beccacece urges calm after late World Cup loss: 'It's the beginning'

Ecuador's head coach, Sebastián Beccacece, called for composure following a narrow 1-0 defeat against Ivory Coast in their World Cup 2026 opener. The decisive goal came in the final minute of the match, leaving the Ecuadorian squad with no points in Group E after the first round of games.

"In the second half, we made the necessary adjustments, and we had it controlled to get at least a draw," the Argentine coach stated after the game, which was attended by 68,274 spectators at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. Beccacece acknowledged the intense physical demands of the match, noting that several players finished the game with muscle fatigue or discomfort.

Despite the disappointing result, Beccacece stressed that the team's World Cup experience is only just beginning. "We put in a great effort against a strong opponent. The final result was not what we wanted, but it is the beginning, and we must continue working," he asserted. Ecuador now sits at the bottom of Group E alongside Curacao, while Ivory Coast and Germany lead the standings after their respective victories.