New Delhi, May 28: Ecuador defenders Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho are set to reunite with the national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after representing Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain respectively in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest.
The two defenders, both products of Ecuador’s rising football system, will join Ecuador’s World Cup preparations on June 1, just days after contesting Europe’s biggest club fixture.
Their former youth coach Yuri Solano believes the duo represent a “golden generation” of Ecuadorian footballers who have become examples for aspiring players across the country.
Hincapie and Pacho, both born in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province just months apart, first rose to prominence together at Independiente del Valle. In 2020, they played key roles in helping the club win the CONMEBOL Libertadores Under-20 title, becoming the first Ecuadorian side to lift the trophy.
The pair also shared the stage with current Ecuador stars such as Moises Caicedo and Pedro Vite during the victorious campaign, including a 2-1 win over River Plate in the final.
Now established at the highest level of European football, both defenders are expected to be central figures for Ecuador at the upcoming World Cup. Hincapie featured in every minute of Ecuador’s group-stage matches at Qatar 2022, while Pacho was part of the squad but did not make an appearance.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League final, Solano reflected on their rise from youth football to the global stage.
“They are examples of hard work and discipline,” Solano said. “For young footballers in Ecuador, players like Hincapie and Pacho show that football can create opportunities and change lives.”
Solano also stressed the importance of studying the development pathways that helped the two defenders succeed at elite level, calling them “case studies” for youth football development.
Ecuador will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Côte d’Ivoire on June 14 before facing Curaçao and Germany in Group E. (Agencies)
