Ecuador Announces Its 26. and Calls Upon Everyone

Jun. 16, 2026

Ecuador enters the 2026 World Cup in one of the greatest historical moments for its national team. With the likes of Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié, and Willian Pacho now mainstays at the world’s biggest clubs, La Tri has a strong case on the pitch and a story that deserves to be told off it.

But this World Cup holds a dimension that no other tournament has ever given Ecuador: for the first time, the World Cup will be contested in North American territory (the United States, Canada, and Mexico)—the very same territory where most of the Ecuadorian migrant community has made its home. This makes La Tri a de facto home team. Not by venue, but by presence.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation used this reality as the starting point to craft the official squad announcement video. The question wasn’t simply how to announce a squad; it was how to make it visible that this list represents something much larger than 26 players on a pitch.

The answer came from identity. The national team players were not born into elite academies. They emerged from their local neighborhoods, fought hard, crossed borders, and reached the pinnacle of world football. They are a mirror image of every Ecuadorian who emigrates: effort, sacrifice, and making it to the top. What defines the national team is the exact same thing that defines those who left everything behind to build something bigger far from home.

The video showcases Ecuadorian migrants in their daily lives across New York: cooking before dawn, building skyscrapers, driving through the city, caring for others, and forging their own paths. Yet they are wearing the official jerseys of the 26 squad members, with the players’ names emblazoned on their backs.

Daniel Perez Pallares, Founder & CCO of Robot & Partners, the agency behind the video's concept and production:

“The players left everything behind to reach a World Cup. Ecuadorians—and especially our migrants—leave everything behind every single day. It’s the same story. We just had to tell it.”

 

The voiceover puts it directly:

“We call upon those who rise early to cook a better tomorrow for their loved ones. Those who raise towering buildings while quietly building something of their own. Those who stand guard for everyone, without ever letting down their guard for their own, even from afar.”

 

The piece closes with the official list of the 26 displayed against the backdrop of New York City streets—the very stage where, in just a few weeks, Ecuador will play as the home team.

Francisco Egas, President of the Ecuadorian Football Federation said:

“A squad announcement is more than just a list. It is about recognizing who represents us today, and we Ecuadorians have poured years of effort, courage, and sacrifice into moving forward, especially far from home.”