Ecuador defender vows best World Cup performance

Ecuadorian defender Ángelo Preciado pledged on Saturday that the team will "give their all" to ensure the 2026 World Cup becomes the greatest in the nation's history. Speaking at a press conference in Philadelphia, where Ecuador is set to debut against Costa de Marfil, Preciado expressed confidence in the squad.

"We are going to give everything to have our best World Cup," Preciado stated. He revealed that within the team, the players consider themselves "favorites" for their opening match. This self-belief is bolstered by an impressive unbeaten streak spanning nearly two years leading up to the tournament.

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We are going to give everything to have our best World Cup.

Preciado also acknowledged the lingering impact of Ecuador's disappointing elimination in the Qatar 2022 World Cup. "We have an experience that hurt us a lot, but we trust the work that the 'profe' (coach Sebastián Beccacece) has been doing, which has given us the necessary tools to improve in every aspect," he added. The Atlético Mineiro defender emphasized the team's commitment to learning from past experiences and applying Beccacece's strategies.

Costa de Marfil and Ecuador are scheduled to face each other for the first time in World Cup history. The match will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, with a capacity of 68,324 spectators. Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM local time (11:00 PM GMT).

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We have an experience that hurt us a lot, but we trust the work that the 'profe' (Sebastián Beccacece) has been doing, which has given us the necessary tools to improve in every aspect.