Ecuador vs Curacao – Match preview and team news
Story by
The Football FaithfulSat, June 20, 2026 at 5:20 AM UTC·3 min readEcuador and Curacao heads into this FIFA World Cup 2026 Round 2 fixture against each other on Sunday after their respective defeats in Round 1.
Ecuador vs Curacao – Match preview and team news
Date: Sunday, 21st June.
Kick-off: 1am BST.
Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Missouri, USA.
Ecuador team news
Ecuador enters this crucial match with a completely healthy squad. Manager Sebastián Beccacece has confirmed that no players are facing injuries or suspensions following their tough opening defeat to Ivory Coast.
AdvertisementAdvertisementNeeding a victory to stay alive in Group E, the manager is expected to shift toward a highly aggressive, attacking strategy.
Standard bearer Enner Valencia will lead the frontline as the primary striker to spearhead the attack. He will get heavy offensive support from dynamic wingers Gonzalo Plata, Alan Minda, and John Yeboah in advanced positions.
In the deeper tactical roles, Chelsea star Moisés Caicedo will anchor the central midfield to control the tempo.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho is set to command the backline. This fully fit lineup gives Ecuador the physical edge and tactical flexibility they need to secure three vital points in Kansas City.
AdvertisementAdvertisementCuracao team news
Curaçao also boasts a clean bill of health with zero injury concerns ahead of this historic fixture.
Following a heavy opening-match loss to Germany, veteran manager Dick Advocaat gave his squad an extra recovery day to maximize their physical freshness.
The Caribbean nation will rely on their most experienced stars to spark an upset against their South American opponents.
Midfielder Livano Comenencia keeps his starting spot after scoring the country's historic first-ever World Cup goal.
Creative duties will fall heavily onto the shoulders of Tahith Chong and Juninho Bacuna to unlock the opposition defense.
Up front, forward Jurgen Locadia will lead the attacking line alongside Sontje Hansen. Advocaat will look to utilize their collective speed on rapid counter-attacks while maintaining a disciplined defensive shape to absorb heavy pressure.
Form
Ecuador
Ecuador arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following an incredibly strong run in their warm-up friendlies. They secured consecutive victories against Guatemala (3-0) and Saudi Arabia (2-1), alongside highly commendable 1-1 draws against European powerhouse Netherlands and African Champions Morocco.
However, La Tri suffered a bitter blow in their Group E opener, conceding a painful 90th-minute winner to lose 1-0 against Ivory Coast, breaking their long unbeaten streak.
AdvertisementAdvertisementCuracao
World Cup debutants Curaçao experienced a mixed bag of results leading into the tournament. They built confidence with a dominant 4-0 friendly victory over regional neighbors Aruba, which helped balance out a prior 4-1 defeat at the hands of Scotland. Their historic first-ever tournament match proved to be a harsh reality check, though, as they were comprehensively dismantled 7-1 by a ruthless Germany team in their opening fixture.
Predicted lineups
Ecuador: Galindez; Franco, Pacho, Ordonez, Hincapie; Yeboah, Caicedo, Minda, Angulo; Valencia, Plata
Curacao: Room; Floranus, Bazoer, Obispo, Fonville; Comenencia, L. Bacuna, J. Bacuna; Chong; Locadia, Hansen
AdvertisementAdvertisementHow to watch Ecuador vs Curacao?
In the UK, you can watch the Ecuador vs. Curaçao match live on BBC One.
Read Also – Chelsea fixture list for the 2026/27 Premier League season
See More – Premier League Boxing Day fixture list for 2026/27
Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
