Sunderland's Nilson Angulo named in Ecuador's 2026 World Cup squad

Sunderland striker Nilson Angulo has been selected for Ecuador's 2026 World Cup team.

Ecuador's World Cup call-up Sunderland forward Nilson Angulo has been chosen as part of Ecuador’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. The 22-year-old joined the Black Cats in January from Anderlecht and has earned 12 international caps but will make his first World Cup appearance. The tournament will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo and Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie are also included, marking their second straight World Cup appearances. ## Valencia’s third World Cup journey Enner Valencia, a former West Ham and Everton forward, is part of the squad and will captain the team. At 36, he is Ecuador’s all-time top scorer with 49 goals in 105 matches and will compete in his third World Cup. Midfielder Kendry Paez, on loan from Chelsea to River Plate, and AC Milan defender Pervis Estupinan have also been selected for the tournament. ## Ecuador’s World Cup group stage fixtures Ecuador, whose best World Cup performance was a round of 16 appearance in 2006, are placed in Group E. Their opening match is against Ivory Coast on 15 June, followed by a game against Curaçao on 21 June. The group stage concludes with a match against Germany at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 25 June. ## Complete Ecuador squad breakdown The squad includes the following players by position. Goalkeepers: Hernan Galindez (Huracan), Moises Ramirez (Kifisia), Gonzalo Valle (LDU Quito). Defenders: Piero Hincapie (Arsenal), Willian Pacho (Paris St-Germain), Pervis Estupinan (AC Milan), Felix Torres (Internacional), Joel Ordonez (Club Brugge), Jackson Porozo (Tijuana), Angelo Preciado (Atletico Mineiro). ## Midfielders and forwards named Midfielders selected are Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Alan Franco (Atletico Mineiro), Kendry Paez (River Plate, on loan from Chelsea), Pedro Vite (UNAM), Jordy Alcivar (Independiente del Valle), Denil Castillo (Midtjylland), Yaimar Medina (Genk). Forwards in the squad are Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Kevin Rodriguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Jordy Caicedo (Huracan), Nilson Angulo (Sunderland), Anthony Valencia (Antwerp), Jeremy Arevalo (Stuttgart).