Paris St. Germain’s Willian Pacho took on Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie in the Champions League final on Saturday, but the defenders will be on the same side at the World Cup after being included in Ecuador’s squad by coach Sebastian Beccacece.
AC Milan defender Pervis Estupinan has also been called up, while Chelsea defender Moises Caicedo provides a strong back line with some extra protection.
Caicedo will be eligible for their opening World Cup match against Ivory Coast on June 14, after FIFA changed its rules last month on minor suspensions picked up during qualifying tournaments.
Ecuador’s attack will be led by 36-year-old Enner Valencia, the team’s captain and all-time top scorer with 49 goals in 105 appearances.
Valencia will be competing in his third World Cup and will look to add to his tally of six goals in football’s global showpiece, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Ecuador, which plays a warm-up match against Guatemala on Sunday, will also play against Curaçao on June 20 and against Germany five days later in Group E.
Ecuador is playing its fifth World Cup, with its best result coming at the 2006 edition in Germany, when the country lost to England in the round of 16.
Team
Goalkeepers: Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Gonzalo Valle
Defenders: Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho, Pervis Estupinan, Felix Torres, Joel Ordonez, Jackson Porozo, Angelo Preciado
Midfielders: Moses Caicedo, Alan Franco, Kendry Paez, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Denil Castillo, Yaimar Medina
Forwards: Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata, Alan Minda, John Yeboah, Kevin Rodriguez, Jordy Caicedo, Nilson Angulo, Anthony Valencia and Jeremy Arevalo
Published on June 1, 2026
