Ecuador trounces Guatemala, tests variations, capitalizes on rival goalkeeper error, and heads to the World Cup on a 19-game unbeaten run

Ecuador concluded their pre-2026 World Cup preparations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Guatemala in Columbus, Ohio. The friendly match saw goals from Jordy Caicedo via penalty, Nilson Angulo, and Pervis Estupiñán, ensuring a positive end to their warm-up campaign.

This win extends Ecuador's remarkable unbeaten streak to 19 matches, a run comprising eight victories and eleven draws accumulated across both South American qualifiers and recent friendlies. The team secured its fifth World Cup appearance by finishing second in the CONMEBOL standings behind Argentina.

Coach Sebastián Beccacece, who had faced some criticism despite positive results, can now find some relief with this performance. The squad will head into the tournament with a solid foundation, having demonstrated resilience and consistency throughout their qualification and preparation phases.

Ecuador is drawn in Group E of the World Cup alongside Germany, Curaçao, and Ivory Coast. Notably, Kendry Páez, a player whose performance at River Plate has been under scrutiny, started the match but had a subdued showing. The team also saw key players like Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié rested for this final friendly.