Nilson Angulo just etched his name into Ecuadorian football history. The 22-year-old forward scored Ecuador’s first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in their crucial Group E match against Germany on June 25 at MetLife Stadium.
A tournament of frustration, then a breakthrough
Ecuador’s World Cup campaign had been, to put it charitably, underwhelming before Angulo’s strike. Their opener against Côte d’Ivoire on June 15 ended in a 1-0 loss. Five days later, they managed only a goalless draw against Curaçao.
Two matches, zero goals. That was the story heading into the Germany game.
Who is Nilson Angulo?
