An exciting duel is on the docket in Group E as Ecuador square off with Curacao at Kansas City Stadium.
Group E
Sunday, 21 June | Kansas City Stadium
Kick-off time
08:00 (GMT+8)
The match
With their opening fixtures now done and dusted, Ecuador and Curacao turn their attention to this pivotal Group E encounter at Kansas City Stadium. Each team suffered defeat in their opener, with Ecuador losing in heartbreak fashion on a late goal against Ivory Coast, while Curacao went down 7-1 to Germany, but did make history by scoring their first World Cup goal. The South Americans are trying to return to the knockout stage of the global showpiece for the first time since 2006 and a victory in this affair would go a long way to helping their cause. Meanwhile, the Caribbean side will once again need to be at their best to try to take down one of the top teams in CONMEBOL.
Ecuador possible starting XI
Galindez; Franco, Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie; Caicedo, Vite, Yeboah; Plata, Valencia, Minda
Curacao possible starting XI
Room; Fonville, Bazoer, Floranus, Obispo; J. Bacuna, Comenencia, L. Bacuna, Chong; Hansen, Locadia
What they said…
“When you don’t start the way you wanted, the anxiety appears. But now we need more conviction than ever, more belief than ever, more confidence than ever.” Sebastian Beccacece, Ecuador coach
Kansas City Stadium
Kansas City Stadium is certified by Guinness World Records as the loudest outdoor sports venue in the world and has hosted a record five consecutive NFL Conference Championships. The arena, which is the home of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs, reached a record-breaking decibel level of 142.2 when the Chiefs took on the New England Patriots in 2014. Known as the soccer capital of America, Kansas City is home to two-time MLS champions Sporting KC and 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) finalists KC Current, who opened the first stadium purpose-built for a professional women’s football team in 2024. The city is a bi-state metropolitan area that straddles the state line between Missouri and Kansas.