South American Teams Suffer Disappointing Start in the World Cup

15 Juni 2026

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South American Teams Suffer Disappointing Start in the World Cup

WKMG

Published: June 15, 2026 at 3:17 AM

Ecuador's Angelo Preciado (17) clears the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

PHILADELPHIA – The South American teams that are competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have had a difficult time getting off to a strong start. They are yet to secure a win in three games, which sets them back against the other teams.

Ecuador suffered a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. Brazil managed a 1-1 draw with Morocco on June 13, 2026, while Paraguay was overwhelmed by the United States, losing 4-1 in their opening game.

Coaches for the teams offered their views after their underwhelming results, sharing their sadness and disappointment. Ecuador's coach Sebastián Beccacece described it as a 'very painful situation'. Paraguay's coach Gustavo Alfaro referred to it as a 'very painful lesson'.

Brazil's coach Carlos Ancelotti, who guided the team to five World Cup titles, offered words of encouragement to his players. 'You don’t win a World Cup based on your first match,' he said.

The results of the game were a surprise to many. Uruguay plays its first game on June 15, 2026, against Saudi Arabia. Argentina takes on Algeria on June 16, 2026, while Colombia faces Uzbekistan on June 17, 2026. South America has a rich history of producing some of the best footballers in the world.

North American teams, however, have started strong. The United States managed a convincing win against South Africa, while Canada earned its first point after drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mexico also kicked off with a 2-0 win over South Africa.

Ecuador, who made its fifth World Cup appearance and are aiming to make a comeback, played against a virtual home crowd in Philadelphia Stadium. The crowd of 68,274 wore yellow jerseys, but unfortunately, they did not get the joy they were hoping for as Ecuador lost the match.

'I'm very sorry we did not give our fans the joy they came to seek,' Beccacece said. He added that the defeat was 'unfair' and was played out in a fantastic stadium atmosphere.

According to Ecuador captain Enner Valencia, the team remains hopeful despite the loss. 'We’re keeping our heads held high knowing that this is just the beginning, and there’s still a tournament ahead of us,' he said.

Ecuador's goalkeeper Hernán Galindez spoke about the unpredictability of the opening games of the World Cup and how they should not necessarily be a determining factor in the team’s overall performance.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

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The World Cup has kicked off in the United States, and for the South American teams, it has been a tough beginning. Ecuador, Brazil, and Paraguay all experienced losses on their opening days, leaving them struggling to keep up with the pace of the game.