Ecuador have announced their 26-man World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in North America.Sebastian Beccacece, who has been manager of the national team since the summer of 2024, has selected several high-profile names, including Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho.Ecuador captain Enner Valencia is set to feature at his third World Cup. The 36-year-old, who previously played for West Ham United and Everton, now plays for Liga MX side Pachuca in Mexico’s top flight. He is Ecuador’s all-time top scorer with 49 goals and ranks fifth in terms of all-time appearances (105).
Nosotros vamos en serio.
Porque estos 26 van con la misma hambre de 18 millones de ecuatorianos. Con el mismo sacrificio de los que salieron desde abajo y llegaron lejos.
Esta es nuestra lista, y vamos a demostrar al mundo que esto es Ecuador. #UnSoloEcuador 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/cYp9QwpqFl
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) June 1, 2026Anthony Valencia, a winger who plays for Royal Antwerp in Belgium’s top flight, has also been selected. The 22-year-old has suffered several injury issues in recent seasons, including an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2025. He scored the second goal in a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Sunday.Chelsea starlet Kendry Paez, who is on loan at River Plate, is in the 26-man squad and looking to add to his 25 caps. The 19-year-old joined Chelsea from his boyhood club Independiente del Valle in the summer of 2024 and spent the first half of the 2025-26 season on loan at Strasbourg.New England Revolution striker Leonardo Campana ruled himself out of the World Cup via a statement posted to social media last month. The 25-year-old said: “Today I have to accept that another injury will leave me out of the World Cup.”Ecuador were drawn in Group E and will face the Ivory Coast (June 15), Curacao (June 21) and Germany (June 25).Ecuador’s full 26-man squadGoalkeepers: Hernan Galindez (Huracan), Moises Ramirez (A.E Kifisia), Gonzalo Valle (L.D.U Quito)Defenders: Piero Hincapie (Arsenal), Willian Pacho (PSG), Pervis Estupinan (AC Milan), Felix Torres (Internacional), Joel Ordonez (Club Brugge), Jackson Porozo (Tijuana), Angelo Preciado (Atletico Mineiro)Midfielders: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Alan Franco (Atletico Mineiro), Kendry Paez (River Plate), Pedro Vite (UNAM), Jordy Alcivar (Independiente), Denil Castillo (FC Midtjylland), Yaimar Medina (Genk)Forwards: Enner Valencia (Pachua), Gonzalo Plata (Flamengo), Alan Minda (Atletico Mineiro), John Yeboah (Venezia), Kevin Rodriguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Jordy Caicedo (Atlas), Nilson Angulo Sunderland, Anthony Valencia (Royal Antwerp), Jeremy Arevalo (Stuttgart)“Rock-solid defensive foundations”Analysis by Thom HarrisEcuador are a side built on rock-solid defensive foundations, and all of the big hitters are there.Pacho played every minute of their qualifying campaign, in which they conceded only five goals in 18 games. He will be flanked by Arsenal’s Hincapie and the promising Joel Ordonez.There are no shortage of options for the wing-back roles; the most familiar name will be former Brighton full-back Pervis Esutipinan, but Nilson Angulo and Angelo Preciado both bring pace and dynamism to the flanks.Hincapie (left) and Caicedo (right) will be key to Ecuador’s World Cup ambitions. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)The midfield three is largely set, with Alan Franco and Pedro Vite likely to join the tireless Moises Caicedo, but young Kendry Paez will fight for his place, despite disappointing loan spells at Strasbourg and River Plate this season.Up top, Enner Valencia is still the main man, having scored six of Ecuador’s last seven World Cup goals. Aged 36, he will need support from the springy Kevin Rodriguez, a willing runner who can stretch defences and cause chaos on the counter, while Anthony Valencia is a late inclusion after recovering from an ACL tear.
