Ecuador 2026 FIFA World Cup Preview: How to Watch, Schedule, TV Channel

Ecuador looks to ride a strong defensive system to get out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage after a strong qualifying effort

Ecuador turned in a defensive clinic during CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing just twice while surrendering only five goals in the 18 games to finish second behind Argentina. La Tri comes to North America with the No. 23 spot in the FIFA world rankings and manager Sebastián Beccacece has led the squad to a 6-11-1 record since taking over the national program in August 2024. During the March international window, Ecuador traveled Europe, playing to 1-1 draws with Morocco and Netherlands. La Tri drew into Group E for the World Cup, facing No. 10 Germany, No. 42 Ivory Coast and No. 82 Curaçao in group play.

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Ecuador World Cup Schedule, TV Channel

For the entire World Cup schedule, check out our 2026 FIFA World Cup Preview.

Pre-World Cup Friendlies

• Saturday, May 30, 2026: vs. Saudi Arabia at Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey), 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, June 7, 2026: vs. Guatemala at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field (Columbus), 4 p.m. ET

Group Stage

• Sunday, June 14, 2026: vs. Ivory Coast at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
• Saturday, June 20, 2026: vs. Curaçao at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, 8 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
• Friday, June 26, 2026: vs. Germany at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)

Knockout Stage*

• Round of 32: June 28-July 3, 2026
• Round of 16: July 4-7, 2026
• Quarterfinals: July 9-11, 2026
• Semifinals: July 14-15, 2026
• Third-place match: July 18, 2026
• Final: Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 3 p.m. ET (FOX)

*–Ecuador must qualify to advance to the knockout stage as either one of the top two finishers in Group E or as one of eight third-place teams from the group stage to advance.

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Ecuador World Cup Roster

Beccacece likely rides with what got Ecuador to the World Cup, with final roster selections due on May 30. Captain Enner Valencia, the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer with 49, and midfield star Moisés Caicedo will look to get La Tri out of the group stage at the World Cup for just the second time.

The roster listed below is as of the March friendlies, with the official roster coming out in late May.

Forwards

• Jeremy Arévalo, 21 (VfB Stuttgart, German Bundesliga)
• Jordy Caicedo, 28 (Huracán, Argentine Primera Division)
• Janner Corozo, 30 (LDU Quito, Ecuadoran Serie A)
• Elías Legendre, 18 (Rennes, French Ligue 1)
• John Mercado, 23 (Sparta Prague, Czech First League)
• Gonzalo Plata, 25 (Flamengo, Brazilian Serie A)
• Kevin Rodríguez, 25 (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgian Pro League)
• Anthony Valencia, 22 (Antwerp, Belgian Pro League)
• Enner Valencia, 36 (Pachuca, Mexican Liga MX)

Enner Valencia carried the attack for Ecuador during World Cup qualifying and will likely team with Gonzalo Plata, at the front of Ecuador’s 4-4-2 setup. The depth spots appear up for grabs as none of the other forwards distinguished themselves, as La Tri scored only 14 goals in 18 qualifying matches.

Midfield

• Jordy Alcívar, 26 (Independiente del Valle, Ecuadorian Serie A)
• Moisés Caicedo, 24 (Chelsea, English Premier League)
• Alan Franco, 27 (Atlético Mineiro, Brazilian Serie A)
• Yaimar Medina, 21 (Genk, Belgian Pro League)
• Alan Minda, 22 (Atlético Mineiro, Brazilian Serie A)
• Kendry Páez, 19 (River Plate, Argentine Primera Division)
• Bryan Ramírez, 25 (Cincinnati, MLS)
• Pedro Vite, 24 (UNAM, Mexican Liga MX)
• John Yeboah, 25 (Venezia, Italian Serie B)

Caicedo drives the midfield for Ecuador and will team with youthful Páez as the top cogs in the midfield. Franco should get one of the starting spots out wide along with 22-year-old Nilson Angelo, who plays with Sunderland in England’s Premier League.

Defenders

• Pervis Estupiñán, 28 (AC Milan, Italian Serie A)
• José Hurtado, 24 (Red Bull Bragantino, Brazilian Serie A)
• Joel Ordóñez, 22 (Club Brugge, Belgian Pro League)
• Willian Pacho, 24 (Paris Saint-Germain, French Ligue 1)
• Jackson Porozo, 25 (Tijuana, Mexican Liga MX)
• Ángelo Preciado, 28 (Atlético Mineiro, Brazilian Serie A)
• Leonardo Realpe, 25 (Famalicão, Portuguese Primeira Liga)
• Félix Torres, 29 (Internacional, Brazilian Serie A)

The back four for Ecuador formed a nearly impenetrable wall during qualifying and La Tri will bring that group to North America. Estupiñán, Pacho and Ordóñez played in the March window and will be rejoined for the World Cup by Piero Hincapié, a 24-year-old with Arsenal in the Premier League, who sat out the friendlies in Europe with an injury. La Tri also enjoys depth on the back line with Preciado and Torres pushing for playing time.

Goalkeepers

• David Cabezas, 30 (Libertad, Ecuadorian Serie A)
• Hernán Galíndez, 39 (Huracán, Argentine Primera Division)
• Moisés Ramírez, 25 (Kifisia, Super League Greece)
• Gonzalo Valle, 30 (LDU Quito, Ecuadoran Serie A)

Galíndez brings 34 caps to North America and is the likely starter, though Valle could push for the No. 1 nod between the sticks.

Ecuador World Cup History

Ecuador made its World Cup debut in 2002 and comes to North America for its fifth appearance in the world’s biggest tournament.

La Tri’s lone escape from the group stage came with a Round of 16 loss in Germany in 2006 and its 1-1-1 group stage mark in Qatar in 2022 wasn’t enough to reach the knockout stage. But the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams in 2026 creates 32 spots in the knockout round, and Ecuador — by world ranking, at least — is favored to claim one of them.

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