Ecuador FA narrows coach candidates after World Cup exit

The Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) has launched a search for a new head coach following the exit of Sebastián Beccacece after Ecuador's elimination in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. President Francisco Egas announced that Guillermo Almada and Ricardo Gareca are completely ruled out, stating “Almada and Gareca are completely discarded”. The federation is focusing on a shortlist that includes Spanish‑born Miguel Ángel Ramírez, Argentine Eduardo Domínguez, Spanish assistants Robert Moreno and Paulo Bento, as well as other names such as Mauricio Pellegrino, Paulo Bento, Gustavo Costas, Rubén Darío Insúa and Marcelo Gallardo. The FEF aims to appoint a coach before September 2026 so the new manager can prepare the team for upcoming FIFA windows and the end‑of‑year fixtures.

The candidate pool reflects a mix of former national team managers and club coaches with experience in South America and Europe. The selection process is being described as “serious and careful”, with the final decision expected to balance experience, adaptability to Ecuadorian football and a longer‑term project for the national side.