Sebastian Beccacece resigns as Ecuador coach after 2-0 World Cup exit to Mexico
Synopsis
Sebastian Beccacece built a 19-match unbeaten run, finished second in South American qualifying ahead of Brazil and Uruguay, and inspired a national holiday with a win over Germany — then walked away after a 2-0 loss to Mexico ended Ecuador's World Cup. His exit marks the close of one of the more quietly impressive coaching tenures in recent Ecuadorian football history.
Key Takeaways
Sebastian Beccacece resigned as Ecuador head coach on 1 July after a 2-0 Round of 32 defeat to Mexico at the FIFA World Cup .
Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez in the first half sealed Mexico's victory.
Beccacece, 45 , took charge in August 2024 and leaves with 9 wins, 12 draws and 3 defeats .
Ecuador finished second in South American qualifying , conceding just 5 goals in 18 matches , above Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil.
A 19-match unbeaten run was ended by Ivory Coast in the World Cup group stage.
Ecuador advanced from the group stage via a 2-1 win over Germany , prompting President Daniel Noboa to declare a national holiday.
Sebastian Beccacece stepped down as Ecuador head coach on 1 July after the South American side's FIFA World Cup campaign ended in a 2-0 Round of 32 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. The Argentine confirmed his departure immediately after the final whistle, citing the natural expiry of his contract and Ecuador's failure to meet the targets set for the tournament.
What Beccacece Said
Speaking to reporters after the elimination, Beccacece was direct in accepting responsibility. 'My contract ends as soon as the World Cup is over, and since we didn't achieve what we promised, the best thing is to step aside,' he said.
He also acknowledged that his players had fallen below the standards they had built under him. 'Mexico clearly outplayed us and that's obviously my responsibility. We didn't do what we do best and we deserved to lose,' Beccacece added. He closed with a message of gratitude: 'I'm grateful to all the players and to the country for this journey and this adventure alongside them. I just want to say ‘thank you’.'
How Ecuador Reached the Knockouts
Ecuador's path to the Round of 32 was anything but smooth. After losing their opening group fixture to Ivory Coast and drawing against tournament debutants Curaçao, the side faced mounting pressure. A dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany in the final group match kept their campaign alive, and they advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The win over Germany prompted Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa to declare a national holiday — a measure of how significant the result felt back home. Tuesday's defeat to Mexico, sealed by first-half goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, brought that momentum to an abrupt halt.
Beccacece's Record in Charge
Beccacece, 45, took charge of Ecuador in August 2024. Under him, the side recorded nine wins, 12 draws and three defeats, and strung together a 19-match unbeaten run before Ivory Coast ended it at the World Cup. In South American qualifying, Ecuador finished second behind Argentina, conceding just five goals in 18 matches — an extraordinary defensive record that placed them above Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil.
He also expressed gratitude to Ecuadorian Football Federation president Francisco Egas. 'I'm grateful to the president for his trust and the freedom he gave me, and also to the federation. I'm leaving a role that I value greatly. We've built a legacy,' Beccacece said.
What Happens Next for Ecuador
Ecuador now face a coaching search with the post-World Cup cycle beginning. The federation will need to identify a successor capable of building on the qualifying momentum Beccacece established, while addressing the attacking deficiencies that cost them in the knockout stage. The search is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Five goals conceded in 18 matches, a win over Germany at the World Cup — tells a story mainstream coverage risks burying under the headline defeat. The 2-0 loss to Mexico was real, but so was the structural improvement he delivered. Ecuador's challenge now is whether the federation can retain that defensive identity while solving the attacking bluntness that ultimately cost them. Coaching searches after tournament exits tend to be reactive; the risk is that whoever comes next dismantles what Beccacece quietly built.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sebastian Beccacece resign as Ecuador coach?
Beccacece resigned because his contract with the Ecuadorian Football Federation expired at the end of the World Cup, and he felt stepping aside was the right decision after Ecuador failed to meet the tournament's objectives. He accepted personal responsibility for the 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Round of 32.
How did Ecuador exit the 2025 FIFA World Cup?
Ecuador lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 32 on 1 July, with Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scoring in the first half. It ended a campaign in which Ecuador had recovered from early group-stage stumbles to qualify for the knockouts.
What was Beccacece's record as Ecuador head coach?
In his tenure from August 2024, Beccacece oversaw nine wins, 12 draws and three defeats. Ecuador went on a 19-match unbeaten run and finished second in South American qualifying, conceding only five goals in 18 matches — finishing above Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil.
How did Ecuador qualify for the FIFA World Cup knockout stage?
Ecuador advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams after beating Germany 2-1 in their final group match. The victory followed a group stage that included a loss to Ivory Coast and a draw against Curaçao, and was significant enough for President Daniel Noboa to declare a national holiday.
Who will replace Beccacece as Ecuador head coach?
No replacement has been announced. The Ecuadorian Football Federation is expected to begin a coaching search in the coming weeks following the end of the World Cup campaign.
