PSG: Pacho reveals Ecuador’s ambition before the World Cup

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·25. März 2026

PSG: Pacho reveals Ecuador’s ambition before the World Cup

Willian Pacho, 24, a central defender for Paris Saint-Germain, showed measured but genuine ambition at a press conference with the Ecuador national team. Between his upcoming duel with Achraf Hakimi (the 27-year-old PSG right-back) in Friday’s friendly against Morocco and his focus on the World Cup, the international mainly highlighted La Tri’s defensive progress.

Hakimi? We joke a bit about who will win, and we’ve been joking about it for a while. The strength of our defense? We’re on the right track defensively. We have to keep going like this. Piero (Hincapié) and Joel (Ordóñez) are excellent, and there are promising young players coming up behind them. The goal for the World Cup? To go as far as possible. It’s a very special tournament, especially for me, as it’s my second time taking part (he was selected for Qatar 2022 but did not play), and I hope I can play and represent my country well.”

At its core, Pacho’s comments say less about a friendly rivalry with Hakimi than about a collective mindset. The Paris Saint-Germain player first stresses Ecuador’s defensive continuity, highlighting his understanding with Piero Hincapié and Joel Ordóñez, but also the idea of a new generation already ready to push from behind.

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This message is far from insignificant: it shows a leader who feels his national team is moving forward with a clear, stable, and competitive foundation. When he then speaks about the World Cup with restraint, Pacho stays in the same mindset. He makes no excessive promises, but sets a credible objective: go far, play, and represent his country as well as possible. The ambition is simple in form, but strong in what it reveals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.