Ecuador Coach Reveals the Mystery Kiss After World Cup Upset

Sebastian Beccacece, the Argentine coach of Ecuador, turned an emotional World Cup moment into a family tribute after his team stunned Germany 2-1 in the final round of Group E. Before the match, he had said, “If I don’t win, I’m going home,” and after two games without a goal and only one point, many had written Ecuador off. Even at the stadium in New Jersey, some fans jeered when his name was announced.

Ecuador’s win over the top-ranked team in the group secured a place in the round of 32 from third place. At the final whistle, Beccacece celebrated wildly, sprinted in excitement, and kissed a mysterious woman in the stands, which prompted immediate curiosity about her identity.

He later explained that the woman was his wife. “People saw me run to the stands and kiss that woman, and many wondered who she was. So that is my wife,” he said. He added that she had stood by him throughout his career, “in good times and bad,” and had sacrificed “so much” for him and their family. “She always told me to keep believing, even when people doubted us. Tonight I wanted to thank her in front of the whole world,” he said.

Beccacece also dedicated the result to Ecuadorians, saying the victory was not only for the players and staff but for “every Ecuadorian who believed in us.” He called beating Germany on football’s biggest stage something the country would remember forever and said he was proud to share the “unforgettable moment” with the person who supported him every step of the way.