Ecuador's national team criticized for lack of long-term planning

Carlos Tenorio, president of the Ecuadorian Footballers Association (AFE), sharply criticized the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) for the absence of a clear sporting project in the national team. In a discussion held this Thursday, Tenorio stated that Ecuador's participation in the 2026 World Cup cannot be classified as a failure, as he claims there was never a defined plan. "If there is no project, there is no failure. There was never a project and a clear line of what was wanted in the team," he declared.

The team's recent 2-0 loss to Mexico on July 1, 2026, reflects the shortcomings Tenorio denounces. With a record of 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss in their last five matches, the team seeks to improve its performance.

What did Tenorio say about the FEF leadership?

Tenorio questioned the permanence of the FEF leaders and stated that "they have never presented a project." He also criticized the lack of ambition in the team, pointing out that "if we keep talking about how historic it is to beat Germany, we're talking about mediocrity. We need to demand more."

The former striker also rejected the idea that the current squad is a "golden generation," arguing that the main problem lies with the leadership and the lack of a sporting plan. "For me, it's not golden. We should be proud of the group we have, but it's not golden," he affirmed.

What does Tenorio demand for the future of the team?

Tenorio called for raising the level of demand on a team made up of young players with experience in the international elite. "Are we going to keep treating them like a senior team or like children? We need to make them mature," he declared. He also urged the FEF to build a sporting project that transcends immediate results.

With these statements, Tenorio focused his analysis on the responsibility of the leadership and defended that the future of the Ecuador national team will depend on the construction of a solid and long-term sporting project.