Ecuador set for Ivory Coast World Cup opener on Sunday

Ecuador open their 2026 World Cup campaign on Sunday against Ivory Coast in Group E, with kickoff set for 01:00 CET. Manager Sebastián Beccacece's side enters the tournament in strong form after a convincing victory over Guatemala in their final warm-up friendly, where the squad gained valuable momentum and Beccacece surprised observers with his tactical choices. VfB Stuttgart midfielder Arevalo caught the eye when he struck the woodwork in that match. With the Generalprobe now behind them, Beccacece is expected to settle on his strongest starting eleven for the crucial opener.