Moises Caicedo has been named Ecuador’s permanent captain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the team prepares to face host nation Mexico in the knockout stage at the Estadio Azteca. This marks only the second time in Ecuador’s history that they have advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds.

Ecuador’s captaincy underwent a notable change during the group stage. Veteran striker Enner Valencia, 36, served as captain in the opening two matches. However, in their decisive final group game against Germany, Caicedo, 24, led the team on the field wearing the captain’s armband, despite Valencia also playing in the match.

Caicedo, who plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League, captained Ecuador to a significant 2-1 victory over Germany, a result that secured their progression to the knockout stage. With this win, Ecuador has taken a major step forward in the tournament, and Caicedo’s promotion to full-time captain signals the coaching staff’s confidence in his leadership at a pivotal moment for the team.

Ecuador’s upcoming match against Mexico will test their resolve against one of the tournament’s host nations. Caicedo is set to lead the squad in this critical fixture as they aim to build on their historic progression in the competition.