Ecuador’s highly rated defense faces a challenge against Ivory Coast in its World Cup opener

Ecuador’s stingy defense will be put to the test in their World Cup Group E opener against the Ivory Coast on Sunday at Philadelphia, where the South Americans will look to stretch their unbeaten run to 20 matches.

Ecuador’s national football team poses for photo last year in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Ecuador’s last defeat came against Brazil in Curitiba in September 2024 in the early stages of World Cup qualifying, and they have conceded only six goals during that run, five of them in friendlies.

They finished second in South American qualifying to book a World Cup berth for a fifth time, all since their 2002 debut.

The Ivorians were even stingier in defense as they completed their 10 qualifiers without conceding a single goal, but the quality of opposition they faced was weaker than the teams Ecuador had to play against.

Since securing a spot at their World Cup tournament spot, the African side have impressed with comfortable warm-up wins over South Korea and Scotland in March and a 2-1 triumph away against France in Nantes two weeks ago.

Ecuador defeated Saudi Arabia and Guatemala in World Cup warm-ups,

Although impressive, Ecuador’s winning streak includes eight 0-0 and 1-1 ties as the Tri-color has had difficulty scoring on opponents.

Ecuador and Ivory Coast kick off at 6 p.m. Ecuador time Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.