SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS TSACHILAS — Moises Caicedo will play in his second World Cup starting June 11, 2026. The Ecuadorian midfielder has earned 60 caps for the national team and scored three goals since making his debut at age 18.

Caicedo, the youngest of ten children, grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas. He used to sell flowers in a cemetery to help support his family and once played barefoot on pitches made of mud, stones, and sand—sometimes with shards of glass. A photograph shows him as a boy kneeling with five young teammates, holding a small winners’ cup from a childhood tournament in Mujer Trabajadora.

“Ever since I was a little boy, I've always wanted to become a professional footballer,” Caicedo said at a medal presentation. “I’ve always wanted to remain the same humble lad who doesn't forget where he comes from.”

He has spent recent holidays in Ecuador, going to the beach, riding the Ferris wheel, and playing soccer with former coaches and friends. His face now appears on murals, shirts, and children’s shin guards in his hometown. Nine-year-old Julian Hidalgo, who is coached by Ivan Guerra—the same coach who trained Caicedo as a child—admires the midfielder for his intelligence and speed.

“We remind them that Caicedo started out at this football school, that the pitch was mud, stones and sand, sometimes with shards of glass,” Guerra said. “We teach the kids to work hard if they want to make their dreams come true.”

Darwin Castillo, who coached Caicedo as a teenager at the Jaipadida club, described him as a shy boy who stood out for his fierce determination and exceptional physique. “Moises's discipline comes from his upbringing at home—a very poor family who prayed before eating,” Castillo said. He added that Caicedo has kept his word about staying humble and connected to his roots, and that the player has “a sense of belonging and is still making up for things he could not do during his childhood” due to a lack of money.

Caicedo appeared 50 times for Chelsea in the 2025–2026 season and scored five goals, continuing his rise from street football in Santo Domingo to the global stage.