All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

All Whites vs Ecuador | Wed 19th Nov | 2:30pm (NZT) | Sports Illustrated Stadium, (Harrison, New Jersey, USA)

161 replies · 6,492 views

23 Oct 22:58 · edited 04 Nov 07:31 · History

Likely to be the more winnable of the two November games.

28 man squad that Ecuador initially named for the October window.
When they played the USA & Mexico. A pair of 1-1 draws.

Their domestic Serie A comp home to six of the call-ups, while 15 players are based at various European clubs. Notable absences included Piero Hincapié, Moisés Caicedo, and Gonzalo Plata.

Like Colombia they don't pick many from the MLS.

Surman has one Ecuadorean team mate at Portland - midfielder Joao Ortiz.
He also has 3 club mates from Colombia, including Juan Mosquera who got 2 international caps in 2023. Plus the Timbers club captain Diego Chará is Colombian.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Hernán Galíndez (Huracán), Moisés Ramírez (Kifisia), Gonzalo Valle (LDU Quito), Cristhian Loor (Botafogo)

DEFENDERS (8): Ángelo Preciado (Sparta Prague), Pervis Estupiñán (Milan), Félix Torres (Corinthians), Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristian Ramírez (Lokomotiv Moscow), Xavier Arreaga (Barcelona), Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge), Jhoanner Chávez (Lens)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Alan Franco (Atlético Mineiro), Kendry Páez (Strasbourg), Alan Minda (Cercle Brugge), John Yeboah (Venezia), Pedro Vite (UNAM), Jordy Alcívar (Independiente del Valle), Yaimar Medina (Genk), Denil Castillo (Midtjylland), Darwin Guagua (Independiente del Valle), Patrik Mercado (Independiente del Valle), Bryan Ramírez (LDU Quito)

FORWARDS (5): Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Kevin Rodríguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Leonardo Campana (New England Revolution), Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht), John Mercado (Sparta Prague)

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23 Oct 23:20 · edited 23 Oct 23:22 · History

this will be tougher then Colombia imo.. this is Ecuadors golden generation, the'yre big, fast, play super direct, and can punish you physically like few teams do.

I watched them play Argentina in qualifiers a few months ago and they completely dominated all parts of the game (albeit Argentina qualified already and rotated heavily).

The coach, Sebastián Beccacece is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to management, a brutish defender from Argentina who got more red cards then goals in his career, he has them play this physically imposing style of game, mixed in with tactical discpline, a 5 wins, 8 draws, 1 loss record shows they're buying in.

Ecuador football is very strong right now, LDU Quito are making later stages of copa Libertatodres now, and have players playing in good leagues worldwide, its not Enner Valencia, Agustin Delgado and Antonio Valencia anymore.

Rodrigo De Paul said Ecuador is the toughest opponent he faces in South America (probably as a dig to Brazil) but it shows the level of respect they now command

coochiee

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06 Nov 20:57

Ecuador are going to announce their squad on Saturday, but Caicedo from Chelsea, Hincapie from Arsenal and Gonzalo Plata from Flamengo in Brazil are all being recalled. They are also calling in three players from Barcelona of Ecuador (including a pair of teenagers), so I'm expecting a mix of their top players, but some new faces in the squad.

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09 Nov 03:52

Ecuador 28 man squad named.

https://tricolor.ec/web/noticia/item/convocatoria-oficial-beccacece-cierra-el-2025-de-la-tri-con-regresos-clave-y-una-sorpresa-goleadora

Keepers
Hernán Galíndez | Hurricane (ARG)
Moisés Ramírez | Independiente del Valle (ECU)
Cristhian Loor | Guayaquil City (ECU)

Forwards
Enner Valencia | SC Internacional (BRA)
Kevin Rodriguez | Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)
Leonardo Campana | Inter Miami CF (USA)
Jeremy Arévalo | Racing Santander (ESP)

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12 Nov 01:13 · edited 12 Nov 01:16 · History

Ecuador like defending.

5 goals conceded in 18 Sth American WC qualifiers is quite some record.

You'd get healthy odds on a Waineo goal against them.

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2025/11/12/all-whites-vs-colombiaecuador-squad-yarns-amp-preview

.........both Colombia and Ecuador actually finished above the Brazilians in World Cup qualifying......................

Ecuador are even better (compared to Colombia).

They finished second in CONMEBOL qualifying, losing just twice in their 18 fixtures... and that’s despite having a three point deduction for some shoddy paperwork in the previous cycle. Ecuador only scored 14 goals, less than one per game, but they also only conceded five. Never more than once in a match (and three of those goals came in the first three games of qualifying – it’s absolutely nuts how good they were defensively).

Needless to say, there were a lot of low scoring games involving these fellas with 8/18 games ending in 0-0 draws and that may be the positive angle for All Whites fans. Ecuador drew 1-1 with both Mexico and USA in the October window and will face Canada in Toronto prior to their match against the All Whites.

Ecuador’s players are less individually renown but you may recognise fellas such as Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Piero Hincapie (Arsenal), Enner Valencia (Pachuca), and Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain). They’re currently on a 13-game unbeaten streak dating back to a 1-0 loss away to Brazil in September 2024.

🇪🇨 Ecuador finished 2nd in 🌎 S. American qualifiers by:

▪️ failing to score a goal in 10/18 matches‼️
▪️ scoring 14 goals in 18 matches (0.78 goals per game)
▪️ playing out a 0-0 draw in 8/18 matches❗️
▪️ conceding only 5 goals in 18 matches
▪️ never conceding more than 1 goal… pic.twitter.com/KP3iT0lOid
— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) September 10, 2025

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14 Nov 05:53

0-0 in Toronto between 10 man Canada and Ecuador.
A common scoreline in Ecuador matches.

Canucks down to 10 men very early on at 5 mins.

Maybe Juneof86 can give us some intel on the Ecuadoreans.
Or Boxy can just ring up his Minny team mate Dwayne St Clair who was in goal for Canada.

Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqGHGZxA-io

Ecuador with 2 extra days extra rest before we play them in New Jersey next week.

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14 Nov 05:57 · edited 14 Nov 06:00 · History

Fresh in Toronto

ITS #CanMNT MATCHDAY🇨🇦🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/JoAGfd1Pua
— Ismaël Koné Enthusiast🇨🇦🇱🇧 (@LFCYussef6) November 13, 2025

Shoutout that guy at BMO#CanMNT pic.twitter.com/yGtevRwcxr
— RGF (@rgfray1) November 14, 2025

𝐍𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝟎𝟏𝟏

Así saltamos a la cancha para enfrentar a 🇨🇦 esta noche en Toronto.

• #CANxECU • #AmistosoInternacional • pic.twitter.com/u61FBQfPEV
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) November 13, 2025

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14 Nov 18:16

The guy with the sign is from my part of the country. He tried to break the Guinness record for most matches attended in Qatar. I was at Argentina-Poland and he was seated directly in front of me. Travel halfway around the world to be next to someone you know.

Wasn't much of a match after the early red card. The referee in question only gave a yellow in a Ligx MX match on the weekend where Coco Carrasquilla from Pumas lunged in with a high, studs-up tackle that broke the leg of Cruz Azul's keeper Kevin Mier (who might be Colombia's No. 1 in the summer if he's healthy). So that was a huge story in Mexico and Liga MX said he won't be officiating any more this season... and so Canada has a high boot a couple of minutes into the match and he couldn't get the red out of his pocket fast enough.

The Ecuadoran supporters are saying that FEF stands for Federation Empate del Futbol - the football federation of draws. They seem ready to fire Beccacece. I know it's not exciting playing a bunch of 0-0s, but finishing second in World Cup qualifying in South America should give him a lot of grace I would have thought.

That said, I don't understand how Ecuador play. Against the US they played the first half in a 4-3-3 that was really a 2-3-4-1... the fullbacks were ahead of the midfield and then they had an injury and went more conventional in the second half. They played a 3-3-3-1 in qualifying and that's how I thought they were going to line up last night (and honestly I was looking forward to seeing what that looked like!) but they played Franco at RB which I don't think is a very natural position. So it was a pretty standard 4-3-3.

The back line is usually Ordonez with Pacho and then Hincapie either at LB or on the left side of a three (and sometimes they do a bit of both with Hincapie tucking in to make a three in possession and more of a four when defending). Pacho from PSG is absolute class and covers ground well. Ordonez is going to be very good too, but he's young and more physical.

Angelo Preciado is usually the right back and he's more of an attacking winger than a proper fullback, but he's very fast and gets back to defend. If they don't play Hincapie at LB (or are in a three), Angulo has played on that wing as a fullback/wingback, but he's also really more of a proper winger. Yeimar Medina is a young guy who doesn't have many caps, but he started both Brazil qualifiers at LB because of his pace and I thought he looked good against the US.

The midfield is Moises Caicedo sitting in front of the backline with usually Franco and Vite in front of him. Vite puts in a nice final ball and gets forward not too badly, while Franco does more of the dirty work. If they're in a three-back, Caicedo almost drops back there at times to make it a four. They seem to value him more building out of the back than getting forward to create, but he did find Valencia for a good chance last night.

They're still starting Enner Valencia up top. He got a half yard and scored with it against the US, but was wasteful of two good chances against Canada. I think the supporters want to move on. They like Campana from New England in MLS who I don't rate too highly, but they're really excited about Arevalo who I think got his first cap last night, but has a share of the goal scoring lead in the Spanish second flight and is in form.

Plata from Flamengo in Brazil usually is one of the two that play off the No. 9... Plata is smaller and technical, Kevin Rodriguez from USG in Belgium plays up top there, but is tall, but quick... decent on the wing, but I think he doesn't get in and around the 6 as much as you'd like. John Yeboah is a tricky, technical wide player (so is Angulo actually), but was held in check pretty well last night. Yeboah and Rodriguez are usually on the right wing and Angulo or Plata are on the left in the front three.

They're dangerous on the flanks, but they seem to struggle to generate too much through the middle and they're fairly direct and hit long switches out of the back, but you can see why they struggle to score and create chances. They have pace on the wings, they work hard and are combative in the midfield. They can be aggressive in the midfield and in getting their fullbacks forward in part because Pacho does such a good job of cleaning up behind them and Caicedo does so much good work in front of the back line. Finally, Galindez, the keeper, really impresses me. I'm surprised he's not a bigger club, though playing in Argentina is a decent level for a South American player.

Looking forward to seeing how you do next week.

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14 Nov 18:31 · edited 14 Nov 23:54 · History

An amazing summary, I doubt the All Whites coach has been given a more comprehensive one!!

I have a feeling that this coach is going to really want to batter us to get rid of this nil all draw complex!

Auckland will rise once more

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14 Nov 21:42

Yes excellent summary June, and was thinking same as AP there will be big pressure on their coach for goals at last, playing a team ranked down in the 80s

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14 Nov 22:06

Hincapie and Pacho at the back with Caicedo holding in front of them.

Yeah we aren't scoring.

Three for me, and two for them.

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15 Nov 03:29

coochiee

Ecuador's results are totally nuts - but effective!
Seven draws in their last eight matches, including five 0-0's and four of those were in a row.
And their last game yesterday vs. Canada was predictably a 0-0 too!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador_national_football_team#Results_and_fixtures

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

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17 Nov 01:32 · edited 17 Nov 01:42 · History

So AWs play Ecuador Wednesday (NZT). Two guys that maybe rested or on restricted mins as they have huge club games coming up.

Minny play at San Diego next Tuesday (NZT) in a one off knock out Western Conference semi final. Might mean Bindon comes into the AWs for Boxy

Viking have a tough away game at Fredrikstad (5th) 4.15am NZT next Monday. Huge game for Bell and his Viking mates re their chances of a first league title in 34 years.

Factoring in the travel, you'd imagine Bell is the most likely to not start against the Ecuadoreans. If so Rufer to come in you'd guess.

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17 Nov 01:33

Given Rufer got zero mins against Colombia I'd expect to see him staring.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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17 Nov 03:50

Actually with Ecuador (played Canada Friday NZT) having 2 days more rest than the AWs, Bazeley might make a number of changes to freshen things up.

Bindon, Rufer, Old & Waine perhaps the most likely to come in.

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17 Nov 16:49

I'm not sure that is the criteria and everyone gets to play. Eg Tommy Smith and Bindon to stay then with Stranger off the bench?

Supporting the supporters and love an away day anywhere in the world. Kiwis Can Fly!

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17 Nov 16:51

Alright team, a few are keen and able with the early afternoon weekday kick-off to watch at a pub in Wellington.

Are you keen to join?

Supporting the supporters and love an away day anywhere in the world. Kiwis Can Fly!

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17 Nov 21:12

TheFlyingKiwis

I'm not sure that is the criteria and everyone gets to play. Eg Tommy Smith and Bindon to stay then with Stranger off the bench?

When did I say Tommy Smith plays?
He’s there purely as a sort of Uncle Remus story teller

Surman will back up, his club season is over
Boxy not so sure

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17 Nov 22:40

I'd go with

Croc
Bindon, Surman, Boxall, FDV
Rufer, Bell
Stamz
Randall, Singh
Waine

Bindon played RB for us on the last trip to the USA i believe?
Boxall is our leader, and needs to start.
The coach seems to love FDV, so he will start again.
Rufer in a midfield 3 would work for me, nice and solid.
Randall deserves a start and Just can add some spark at the end of the game.
Waine was full of running in the last game.

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17 Nov 23:02

Must be a bit nippy if the guy who lives in Minnesota is wearing gloves.

Chilly first session in New Jersey 🥶 pic.twitter.com/wrN2lLmNel
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 17, 2025

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17 Nov 23:14

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/11/18/new-zealands-opponents-ecuador-10-things-you-might-want-to-know/

Ecuador — the All Whites’ next opponents — are looking to extend their 14-match unbeaten run when they meet New Zealand in New Jersey.

1. The first meeting between the sides
Wednesday’s match will be the first full international played between New Zealand and Ecuador.

2. A familiar venue for Ecuador
The Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey (formerly Red Bull Arena) has been used for 11 previous friendly internationals involving Ecuador, including two last year (against Guatemala and Italy).

Ecuador have a record of seven wins and a draw from those games at the 25,000-seater stadium.

Wednesday’s match will be the first by any New Zealand national team — men’s, women’s or age-group — at the ground that serves as home for the New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer) and Gotham FC (National Women’s Soccer League).

4. Team formation
Head coach Sebastián Beccacece has shown a preference for 4-4-2 formations since taking the role in August 2024, but adopted 4-2-3-1 for key World Cup qualifiers.

For the 1-0 win against Argentina in September, his 4-4-2 line-up was:

Hernán Galindez (Huracán, Argentina), Piero Hincapié (Arsenal, England), Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge, Belgium), Willan Pacho (PSG, France), Ángelo Preciado (Sparta Prague, Czechia), Pedro Vite (UNAM, Mexico), Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht, Belgium), Alan Franco (Atlético Mineiro , Brazil), Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea, England), Enner Valencia (Pachuca, Mexico), Gonzalo Plata (Flamengo, Brazil).

10. A 14-game unbeaten streak
Since Sebastián Beccacece (44) was appointed head coach in August 2024, Ecuador have forged one of international football’s best defensive records.

They are unbeaten in their last 14 matches, having drawn nine of them. Seven of the draws were scoreless, and the side have conceded only four goals while Beccacece, a former right back who never played professionally, took charge.

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17 Nov 23:54

For us it'll be the same as it was against Columbia, tough but if we can manage to avoid allowing them too much creative space and making any errors we could put them under pressure.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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18 Nov 06:11

So, Ecuador, I have watched a lot of them over many years and here is my analysis of them:

Ecuador have also not lost a game since 6 September 2024, a tight 1-0 loss away at Brazil. In that timeframe, they have also only conceded one goal, with just five conceded over the whole of qualifying.

Ecuador’s trajectory may be surprising to some, but it’s really a natural extension of the growth of the domestic game, an increase of players playing their trade in Europe, and a youth system that continues to produce stars. This is a national team that could make a run in next summer’s World Cup. Now, the aim of this international window and message from Ecuador’s standpoint is simple: keep going.

Beccacece, and Argentinian, became Ecuador’s head coach in August of 2024, replacing Félix Sánchez after losing to Argentina in Copa América quarter-final. At 44, he’s a fairly young manager, and has never been an international one. He has no history as a professional player either. In Ecuador, he took one one of the most coveted jobs in South American soccer, with a talented and hungry squad featuring Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and PSG center back Willian Pacho.

Yet despite this supposed mismatch, Beccacece has instilled defensive discipline into a team that are now masters of the counterattack thanks to an abundance of poise and pace. Under Beccacece, the low block is their friend, especially when protecting a lead and to them, defense – like the saying goes – really does win championships. Due to this philosophy, there are some corners of Ecuador’s media that criticize the lack of offensive creativity. Out of the South American teams who qualified for the World Cup, Ecuador were the joint lowest scorers alongside Paraguay. But to the team, their stingy defensive unit is a symbol of pride. .

Becca’s lack of history as a player means he has worked his way up through the coaching ladder, eventually working very closely with Jorge Sampaoli as his assistant for Universidad de Chile where they won practically every domestic title and the Copa Sudamericana in 2011. Eventually it led the pair to the national team during Chile’s golden years, which included the World Cup in 2014 when Chile eliminated Spain in the Round of 16. They were also the duo that led Chile to win Copa América a year later. Afterward, he joined Argentinian club Defensa y Justicia before Sampaoli approached him once again, this time as part of the 2018 World Cup campaign for Argentina.

Now he leads a national team that has grown in stature due to the continuous investment in domestic youth development and global awareness. Clubs such as Independiente del Valle and Liga de Quito have implemented such strong projects from the youth level that the country is now seen as a hub for European scouts – especially when it comes to center backs. From the aforementioned Pacho to Piero Hincapié, the versatile defender who was part of Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and now plays for Arsenal.

Every position, though, has up and coming stars. Independiente del Valle, for example, has one of the best academies in the continent and continues to produce talent such as the aforementioned Caicedo, Preciado, Pacho and Joel Ordóńez from Club Brugge. Then there are younger players such as 18-year-old Kendry Páez (on loan at Strasbourg from Chelsea) and 22-year-old Patrik Mercado. These clubs are now focusing so much more on infrastructure – analytically and technically – than ever before.

Regardless of the availability, Beccacece doesn’t care so much if these are just friendlies or not. In last week’s press conference, he ended it with a call to action and a warning to anyone who might underestimate his team.

“We are focused on making the greatest World Cup in the history of the national team” he saix

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18 Nov 06:35 · edited 18 Nov 06:39 · History

Ain't Argentinian football coaches, a bit like NZ rugby coaches, ie rated & sought after?
A number national and club teams in South America having an Argy gaffer.

Life in Ecuador a bit grim at the moment (massive security problem with narco gangs), so I'm sure having a decent football team brings them some welcome happiness.

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18 Nov 06:50

Yes Argentinian coaches are highly regarded and sought after, especially in Latin America. From the mid-60s onwards, the question was whether you believed football was a matter of style and individual talent or about organisation, discipline and cynicism, doctrines that by the 80s had been bracketed under the terms menottismo and bilardismo. Then a third way was found: bielsismo. Bielsa dragged Argentinian thinking into the pressing age, but by around 2010 there were those who wondered whether the focus on speed and intensity among his followers took some of the artistry from football. Scaloni embodies the values of the new Argentinian coach: pragmatic, unattached to dogma, serious, hard-working and comfortable working with both players and data analysts. Restoring Pékerman’s spirit, if not his precise vision, was a necessary step.

The contrast with Brazil, whose coaches rarely find work in Europe or elsewhere in South America, is obvious. Tite, who stood down as Brazil national coach after the World Cup, was an exception in his willingness to travel to broaden his education; although Brazilian clubs continue to dominate the Copa Libertadores, that is more to do with economics than tactical sophistication.

coochiee

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18 Nov 08:41

Matt McLaughlin at Thunder Road has come in big with putting on the game tomorrow in Wellington for anyone who would be watching and wants to link in and enjoy it together. Plus wings. Let me know if keen, 2:30pm start.

Supporting the supporters and love an away day anywhere in the world. Kiwis Can Fly!

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18 Nov 09:18

I'm only anticipating changes at right back and in our front 4 for this game. Boxall's next game isnt until Tuesday, and he played both games last window in which he had to do a lot more flying. Expecting Singh to start again too, as he is so key to what we do and we don't have anyone else like him.

Can see Bell, Boxall & FdV getting subbed a little bit earlier in the second half given the short turnaround though.

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18 Nov 10:54 · edited 18 Nov 12:56 · History

I can definitely see Bell being rested, given it’s a massive match for Viking away this weekend.

We also looked a bit tired 2nd game verus Socceroos when they rotated but we remained basically unchanged.

Against Norway we were helped by having an extra day between games, compared to them. This time Ecuador have two extra days, so that will come into Baze’s thinking

But I’ve been wrong on this stuff before when he’s gone and made less changes than I thought he would

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18 Nov 18:19

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360876693/all-whites-v-ecuador-all-you-need-know-about-international-football-match
a small ray of sunshine for us, their star striker is heading back to Mexico

Queenslander 3x a year.

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18 Nov 22:18

It's also cold up in NJ, it's snowing there this morning. I feel like that'll suit us better...

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19 Nov 00:00

It might go agaisnt the grain but I really want to see Stanger get some minutes today. This window has shown the nature of the beast is we probably aren't going to be lucky enough to have our desired first XI available fit and uninjured come the world cup. Would be good to get to see what Stanger can bring if god forbid we have a massive injury crises in the backline, and we knownhe wont be, being thrown in the deep end without floaties

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19 Nov 00:08 · edited 19 Nov 00:49 · History

Yeah I don't see the point of just always playing Surman & Boxall.
That would be dumb if either were injured at the big dance next year. You have to do some rotation for good WC prep.

Bindon should get some mins, maybe even start, and yes agree Stanger should be getting a sub cameo.

Cold shouldn't phase the Ecuadoreans much. They have just played in Toronto, and play their home games at high altitude Quito which is cold and wet.

Though I've been told most of their players (especially the black guys) generally come from the steamy Pacific coastal Guayaquil tropical region. But the national team play at Quito for the high altitude advantage.

https://x.com/NZ_Football/status/1990874772742234183/photo/1

https://x.com/i/status/1990632289944879369

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19 Nov 00:11 · edited 19 Nov 00:12 · History

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19 Nov 00:28

Bit of a bugger this being on at the same time as the Socceroos game. I’d have been interested in watching that, after having played both of them recently.

Fire Up 🔥!

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19 Nov 00:43 · edited 19 Nov 00:50 · History

Marko captain. Nice moment for the Stamenic family.

As speculated Bindon, Rufer, Old & Waine come in.
Boxy, Bell, Garbett & Barba to the bench.

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19 Nov 00:57

Big game for Waineo. Though looking at the career of Troy Parrot, maybe he needs to look outside of the English game?

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19 Nov 01:07

Ecuador starting 11.
https://x.com/i/status/1990946652421841182

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19 Nov 01:22

Crocs age 32, Tuiloma 30, Rufer 29 and the rest early to mid 20s.
But a good chunk of the squad now with 20+ caps.

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19 Nov 01:38

Singh already looking good.

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19 Nov 01:45

It's been a LONG time since I bought a bottled beer anywhere in town, but is $10.50 considered a good deal for a ... 330ml Heineken? Wow - what is the usual price?!?!?1

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