Ex-Ecuador Coach Beccacece Discusses World Cup Qualifiers Success, Tournament Failure

Sebastián Beccacece, the Argentine coach who led Ecuador's national team from August 2024 to July 2026, has broken his silence on his tenure, which saw success in World Cup qualifiers but ended in disappointment at the tournament itself. In an interview with Radio Centro, Beccacece analyzed his time with "La Tricolor," highlighting the team's strong performance in the South American qualifiers, where they secured second place with 29 points, comfortably earning a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Despite the successful qualification campaign, the World Cup objective fell short. Ecuador was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2-0 loss to Mexico. This result, along with performances against Ivory Coast and Curacao, drew criticism and marked the end of Beccacece's cycle. The coach expressed that the process "did not have the end it deserved or that we wanted or desired," but maintained that "there are arguments to feel, to think and to believe that things are being done very well."

Beccacece acknowledged that Mexico was the superior team in their knockout match, stating it was "the only game where we were outplayed." He asserted that in the other 23 matches, Ecuador had been "very dominant" and played "football recognized worldwide." He also defended his reliance on top scorer Enner Valencia, noting Valencia was the leading scorer throughout his process and remains Ecuador's all-time top scorer. "If there is a goal specialist, I think it is him," Beccacece stated, while also noting that offensive contributions depend on player form.

Regarding player minutes, Beccacece was more critical of Jeremy Arévalo, who had limited playing time at his club. However, he clarified that Arévalo was considered a player for the "process," similar to Pervis Estupiñán, who also faced limited minutes at AC Milan but was still a key national team player. Beccacece emphasized the strong unity within the squad, stating, "We could see that a family, a unity was truly formed, and that we were able to navigate adverse moments very united. I think that is the greatest prize this selection has had."