Yes, the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt was also present at the 2026 World Cup—at least alongside the Ecuadorian national team.
Carolina Vilches, press officer for the Ecuadorian national soccer team and a member of the Schoenstatt Family League, carries the image of the Blessed Mother with her on all trips with the team. Usually, the image stays in her room. But on game days, it accompanies the delegation in the locker room, serving as a silent sign of trust and dedication.
Throughout Ecuador’s World Cup campaign, the Blessed Mother’s gaze was present in moments of anticipation, in victories, and in defeats, always reminding everyone that the MTA walks alongside her children.
In this interview, Carolina shares her experience of the 2026 World Cup and recounts highlights from that time.
Carolina, can you tell us what your job is with the Ecuadorian national soccer team?
I’m currently the press officer for the National Teams of the Ecuadorian Soccer Federation. My role includes coordinating all media communications and press activities during team gatherings, training sessions, matches, and tournaments.
This is my second World Cup, and the work is intense. The days are incredibly long, there are so many details to coordinate, and we’re almost always figuring things out on the fly. But it’s also a huge privilege. Representing my country through my work and experiencing a World Cup from the inside is still hard to believe. This has always been my dream.
And what is your connection to the Schoenstatt Movement?
Schoenstatt has been part of my life since I can remember. I joined the Movement 32 years ago, when I was just 4 years old, so I grew up in it. At age 14, I sealed my Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother—a moment that profoundly shaped my journey of faith.
I was an active member of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth in Guayaquil and, years later, also in Buenos Aires while I was studying there. Schoenstatt gave me friendships, formation, and a way of understanding life grounded in trust in God and the Blessed Mother.
Today, my life has a different rhythm, but the Covenant remains part of my daily life. I’m also part of the Schoenstatt Family League. Without a doubt, this bond is a deeply personal relationship that guides me in every important decision, and I try to live it out in my work as well.
You usually take the Pilgrim Mother with you on your trips. Was she with you at this World Cup?
Yes. Since June 2025, I’ve taken the Blessed Mother with me on all my trips. It all started at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil—where there used to be an image of the Blessed Mother—when someone decided to remove it along with all the other religious images. We had already played there in November 2024, and She was present. When we returned months later and I saw that She was no longer there, it really struck me.
I asked for permission to bring an image of the Blessed Mother—the very same one that later went viral. The most beautiful part is that, as a true sign of Divine Providence, it was the image that had accompanied my dad for many years at his workplace. It was crowned, and I felt that She also wanted to be part of my work and become the “Queen of the Three Colors” (of the Ecuadorian national team).
Since that day, that image has traveled with me everywhere, and this World Cup was no exception. I keep it in my room, and amid so many trips, moves to different cities, and days of intense work, seeing it each morning or night reminds me that I’m never alone. On game days, it also goes with me to the locker room, and I’ve often seen players approach it, touch it, and make the sign of the cross.
“On game days, the image of the Blessed Mother also goes with me to the locker room, and I’ve often seen players come over, touch it, and make the sign of the cross.”
Have you already had the opportunity to talk about Schoenstatt and your faith with the Ecuadorian national team, whether with the players or the coaching staff?
Yes, in very natural conversations. It’s never been forced or a prepared conversation. When the opportunity arises, I happily share what my faith means to me and how important Schoenstatt is in my life.
The day we beat Germany, one of the players replied to a message I sent him, saying: “Thank you so much, Carito. God and the Blessed Mother will be with us today. Yes, I also go to the Schoenstatt Shrine.”
That message moved me deeply. I felt immense joy, and my eyes filled with tears. It was one of those little gifts that the Blessed Mother places along the way.
Do you feel that the Blessed Mother accompanied you on this trip? In what moments have you felt her presence?
Yes, very much so. I’ve felt her especially in moments of great exhaustion, when there’s pressure, when things don’t go as planned, or simply when I miss my family.
But I’ve also felt her in the little details—in people who show up just when you need them, in conversations that come at the right moment, in that peace that appears without any explanation. For me, that’s where the Blessed Mother is. Not always in extraordinary things, but accompanying me quietly in my day-to-day life.
Before the match against Mexico, when our qualification was on the line, I took the image to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The result wasn’t what we’d hoped for, but I felt her presence made the moment much easier to bear. It reminded me that God continues to write the story even when our plans don’t align with His.
Ecuador pulled off a surprise in this World Cup by defeating the formidable German team. We know there’s a lot of technical preparation and great dedication on the team’s part, but has faith also helped the national team in this competition? In your opinion, did “the Mother’s hand” have anything to do with this match?
I’m convinced that behind a result like that lies tremendous work. There’s a coaching staff that prepares every detail, players who give their all, and a deeply committed group of people.
From my faith perspective, I believe that God and the Blessed Mother walk with us on our journey. I don’t think they cause us to win or lose a match, but I do believe they sustain us, give us peace and strength, and help us face every challenge with hope.
Personally, I felt the Blessed Mother’s presence throughout this World Cup. Rather than focusing on a specific result, I feel she was with us every step of the way, watching over us and reminding me that, even amid pressure, uncertainty, or defeat, we are always in good hands.
And that certainty, for me, has been one of the greatest gifts of this experience.
The day we beat Germany, one of the players replied to a message I sent him, saying: “Thank you so much, Carito. God and the Blessed Mother will be with us today. Yes, I go to the Schoenstatt Church, too.”
What has your experience been like at this World Cup? Can you share your impressions with us?
It has been one of the most intense and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had.
As a mom of two girls, I think I experienced this World Cup from two perspectives at once. On the one hand, I had the immense privilege of fulfilling the dream I’ve worked toward for so many years; on the other, I faced the challenge of being away from them and my family for more than 40 days. Without a doubt, that was the hardest part.
It’s been more than 40 days of living with a group of people who, without even trying, became another family. There were beautiful days and others that were very difficult. There were joys, frustrations, exhaustion, hugs, goodbyes, and so much learning.
This World Cup confirmed to me that this isn’t just about soccer. Behind every match are people who leave their families, who miss birthdays, births, and moments that will never come again. Today I better understand the sacrifices made by every player, every member of the coaching staff, and every person who works behind the scenes for a national team.
I think one of the most valuable things I’m taking away is the realization that we’re all deeply human. We make mistakes, and often a hug, a glance, or a word of encouragement is exactly what the other person needs. And when you spend so much time with the same people, you learn to put yourself in their shoes and see things with more empathy.
I’m also taking with me a deep sense of gratitude—for the privilege of being here, of representing my country, and of meeting an extraordinary group of people. I’m convinced that God brought together every person meant to be on this journey.
Today we return home with the peace of mind that comes from having given it our all. Sometimes the results are there, and other times they aren’t. But when you know you gave your heart and worked with honesty, you also find peace.
I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It transformed me as a professional, but above all as a person, a wife, and a mom.
