This is one of four friendlies scheduled for Ecuador as they aim to climb the FIFA rankings and secure at least 23rd place (currently 24th), which would place them in Pot 2 for the World Cup draw on December 5.

Their chances to move up improved after Brazil defeated South Korea, currently 23rd in the rankings, by a comfortable margin. This opens a prime opportunity for Ecuador to gain ground.

Ecuador will play two friendlies this October against the United States and Mexico. Caicedo’s absence is notable, as he has been performing at an elite level, including an exceptional game against Liverpool in the Premier League.

Why is Moises Caicedo not available for Ecuador vs USA?

The biggest absence is midfielder Moises Caicedo of Chelsea. The coach of Ecuador, Sebastián Beccacece, decided to rest Caicedo due to his heavy workload this season. Despite scoring a brilliant goal against Liverpool in the seventh week of the Premier League, Caicedo will sit out to prevent fatigue and reduce the risk of injury.

Caicedo is a key starter for Chelsea, so this break is crucial to manage his physical condition. As a result, he will miss both friendlies against the United States and Mexico, with Ecuador prioritizing his recovery. Chelsea had reported minor physical issues, but he played the full 90 minutes in his last match.

Other notable absences for Ecuador

Beccacece also chose to rest other key players, including Piero Hincapie and Gonzalo Plata. The defender is recovering from an inguinal injury, while the winger has played multiple consecutive matches and the staff wants to prevent any risk of injury.

Piero Hincapie, who recently joined Arsenal, is still regaining full fitness, and the decision was made to avoid exposing him to the rigors of international soccer friendlies. Similarly, Gonzalo Plata will also be rested to maintain his condition for the upcoming competitive matches.

Minutes before the match in Asunción, ESPN reported that the ‘Niño Moi’ was removed from Ecuador’s squad due to a physical issue. The news came as a surprise to fans, as Caicedo has been a key figure in Ecuador’s midfield. His absence adds uncertainty to the team’s strategy for such an important game.

The Chelsea midfielder had been dealing with this problem since the last Premier League match against Fulham. Despite not showing a drop in performance on the field, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca clarified that Caicedo has been managing these issues. The strain comes from the heavy workload he endured during last season, and the staff is prioritizing his long-term fitness.

Without an official medical update, fans must wait to see if Moises Caicedo will be available for the final World Cup Qualifiers match next Tuesday against Argentina in Guayaquil. Ecuador will already be qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but his presence could still impact the team’s approach. The uncertainty surrounding the midfielder adds extra intrigue to the matchup.

Ecuador’s confirmed lineup vs Paraguay

The injury to Moises Caicedo could have a major impact on Ecuador’s performance, as he has been a cornerstone and arguably the team’s best player due to his outstanding form with Chelsea, the club world champions. Without him, the question remains: how will Ecuador line up against Paraguay?

This is the confirmed lineup for Ecuador against Paraguay: Hernan Galindez; Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, William Pacho, Pervis Estupiñan; Jordy Alcivar, Joel Ordoñez, Kendry Paez; Pedro Vite, Nilson Angulo; Enner Valencia.

Two of the most notable absences in DAZN’s starting XI were Messi and Caicedo, two South American stars who shined for their respective teams. Messi’s Inter Miami were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, but his individual contributions were widely praised. The Argentine played a pivotal role in helping the MLS side reach that stage, even if it wasn’t enough to prolong their stay in the tournament.

As for Caicedo, many considered the Ecuadorian to be the top midfielder of the competition. Without him, Chelsea’s midfield lacked structure and recovery. Teammates hailed Caicedo as their best player of the season, and his performance in the final against PSG was widely applauded — especially his dominance over Vitinha. Despite all that, Caicedo was left out of the Best XI, a decision many have called unfair.

DAZN’s 2025 Club World Cup best XI

The lineup features a heavy presence of players from PSG and Chelsea, which makes sense given they were the tournament finalists. Still, there were a few surprise inclusions that stood out for their exceptional play.

DAZN’s Best XI: Bono (Al Hilal); Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Vitinha (PSG), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Chelsea); Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid).

Social media quickly erupted with criticism over the inclusion of Enzo Fernandez and Vitinha at the expense of Caicedo. One explanation offered was that Caicedo missed the semifinals due to yellow card accumulation, which may have influenced the final selection.

Surprise names in the squad?

One of the biggest surprises was the inclusion of goalkeeper Bono from Al Hilal. The veteran shot-stopper played five matches, conceded six goals, and kept two clean sheets. He also saved a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde in the opening 1-1 draw and delivered a crucial stop against Savinho in a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City in the Round of 16.

Up front, DAZN included Fluminense’s Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia. Arias starred for Fluminense throughout the tournament, scoring a spectacular goal and recording an assist in the group stage against Ulsan. Garcia, meanwhile, stepped in for an ill Kylian Mbappe and quickly became one of Madrid’s most important players. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, earning a deserved spot in the lineup.

The Ecuadorian midfielder has been central to Chelsea’s success this season under Enzo Maresca, even wearing the captain’s armband on multiple occasions.

Caicedo played all 38 matches in the Premier League, helping the Blues finish fourth in the table, and has been one of the most consistent and reliable players at the club.

While Chelsea already played without Caicedo in their opening match of the tournament against Espérance de Tunis—where he was benched to avoid suspension—the quarterfinal marks one of the rare occasions the midfielder is entirely unavailable.

Why is Moises Caicedo not playing today?

Caicedo is suspended for the quarterfinal match against Palmeiras after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament during the Round of 16 clash with Benfica. As a result, the Ecuadorian will miss the game due to suspension but is expected to support his teammates from the sidelines.

His absence is a major blow for Chelsea, especially given his importance in controlling the midfield. The upside, however, is that Caicedo will be eligible to return “clean” for a potential semifinal and, if they advance, the final—should the Blues continue their campaign in the Club World Cup.

Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed the lineup just minutes before kickoff and opted to leave Caicedo out of the starting XI, even though the Ecuadorian midfielder has been a vital part of the squad throughout the season. However, he will be available off the bench.

Moises Caicedo had started both of Chelsea’s previous matches in the group stage of the Club World Cup. In the opener against Los Angeles FC—a 2-0 win for the English side—he partnered with Romeo Lavia in midfield and was subbed off in the 84th minute for Dario Essugo. In the loss to Flamengo, he played the full 90 minutes.

This time, however, Maresca opted for a different approach, choosing a midfield duo of Lavia and Enzo Fernandez. While there has been no official confirmation on why Caicedo was left out of the starting XI, the fact that he is on the bench strongly suggests it was a tactical decision rather than an injury concern.

Chelsea starting lineup vs Esperance

Head coach Enzo Maresca named the following starting XI for Chelsea’s clash against Esperance ST on Tuesday night at Lincoln Financial Field: Filip Jorgensen; Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong; Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia; Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku; Liam Delap.

What do Chelsea need to advance?

Chelsea entered Matchday 3 of the Club World Cup in second place in Group D with 3 points—the same tally as Esperance. With Flamengo already qualified as group winners and LAFC eliminated, the final Round of 16 spot will be decided directly between Chelsea and Esperance.

The Blues hold a key advantage: a better goal difference and more goals scored. That means a draw would be enough for Chelsea to secure the coveted second spot in the group. Of course, a win would also see them through. For Esperance, the only way to advance is with a victory.

At 21, the future looks bright for Caicedo, who has already taken part in a FIFA World Cup with his country. The Blues aim to get back to prominence for the years to come, and the young midfielder could play a key role.

Even though it’s still too soon to tell whether he’ll live up to the expectations around him, Chelsea seem to be very confident in his potential as Caicedo was given a lucrative deal.

How much does Moises Caicedo make at Chelsea?

According to Ali Barat, owner of Epic Sports agency – which represents Caicedo, Chelsea handed the Ecuadorian sensation a significant pay rise compared to his salary at Brighton.

Barat told Tuttosport that the Blues pay Caicedo £150k per week, which is way bigger than his previous £60k-a-week salary with the Seagulls.

Considering this £150k weekly salary, Caicedo would make £600k a month, or £7.2 million a year. On a daily basis it would be £21,428 a day; or £892 an hour; £14.88 a minute; or £0.25 a second.

Now it’s Chelsea who are chasing one of their best players, Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo, who has been a smash hit in the Premier League. The Ecuadorian can play various positions as a defensive midfielder and is considered one of the best at his position in England.

The 21-year-old star is reported by 90min to be valued at a whopping £100 million. Caicedo is reported to have no issues with personal terms and is keen on a deal to move to Chelsea.

Moises Caicedo valued at £100 million

Chelsea has been selling many of their players as they open up the books, with USMNT star Christian Pulisic on the verge of a transfer to AC Milan. Caicedo would slot in a midfield that already boasts Enzo Fernández, who was brought in on a mega fee.

Caicedo has a contract at Brighton until 2027, and with no real rush can sit back and wait for the best offer, Chelsea will have to sign at least one midfielder with the possible loss of Pulisic and the losses of Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante.