Ecuador boss Beccacece resigns after 2-0 World Cup defeat to hosts Mexico amid FIFA complaint

Sebastian Beccacece resigned as Ecuador head coach moments after his side were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, beaten 2-0 by hosts Mexico in the round of 32 in Mexico City. Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez in the first half sealed the result, with Ecuador further reduced to ten men when Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 95th minute.

Beccacece, 45, confirmed his departure was always tied to the tournament’s conclusion, but acknowledged the team fell short of its ambitions. “Our contract ended with the World Cup. I don’t think we were able to achieve the feat we promised: to make this the best World Cup ever. Today it’s my turn to say goodbye,” he said, per Reuters.

Despite the defeat, the Argentine coach was reflective rather than bitter. “I have gratitude — gratitude for the people, gratitude for the players who gave their hearts. This has been a painful evening but I leave with good memories of the dressing room tonight. After the match, talking with the boys… they were two beautiful hours. We built a family. We didn’t achieve what I said we would, but I feel complete. I know what we built.”

The match was overshadowed by events in the hours before kick-off. Ecuador’s players were filmed peering through hotel curtains as supporters directed fireworks at their building in Mexico City late into the night. The squad also arrived at their hotel three hours and 20 minutes behind schedule, with Beccacece citing unexplained delays to both their flight and coach transfer.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation responded by filing a formal complaint with FIFA. In a statement, the FEF said: “Regarding certain off-the-field actions that took place prior to the Round of 16 match, the Ecuadorian Football Federation informs that it has submitted a formal complaint to the organisers, as this conduct is far removed from the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a FIFA World Cup should represent.”

Beccacece took charge of Ecuador in 2024 following stints at Elche, Defensa y Justicia and Racing Club. He guided the side to a second-place finish in South American qualifying — ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay — conceding only five goals across 18 matches. At the tournament itself, Ecuador scraped through the group stage as one of the eight best third-place finishers, clinching that berth with a final-group-game win over Germany.

Mexico, buoyed by a partisan home crowd and the quality of Moises Caicedo’s counterpart Quinones, advance to the last 16 as one of the competition’s early dark-horse contenders.