Ecuador just beat Germany at a World Cup. Read that again if you need to.
The South American side secured a 2-1 victory over Germany on June 25, clinching third place in Group E and punching their ticket to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s the first time Ecuador has advanced past the group stage in 20 years, dating back to their breakthrough run in 2006.
How Ecuador got here
Ecuador’s path through Group E wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. The team finished with 4 points from three matches: one win, one draw, and one loss.
This is Ecuador’s fifth overall appearance at the FIFA World Cup. For a country that didn’t even qualify for the tournament until 2002, that alone represents a remarkable trajectory.
