Chelsea Football Club has completed the renovation of a community pitch in Guayaquil, Ecuador, as part of the club’s global Can’t Tame Us campaign for the 2026/27 third kit launch, creating a renewed space for football, connection and community in one of the city’s most densely populated neighbourhoods according to the club.
Located in Guasmo Norte, the futsal pitch is more than a place to play. Set among the homes and everyday life of the neighbourhood, it provides a shared outdoor space where children can kick a ball around, friends can compete, families can watch from the sidelines and neighbours can stop to talk. The renovation gives the community a refreshed place to come together through a shared love of sport, while helping to make football more accessible to the next generation.
Ecuador is the country that gave us Moises Caicedo, the winner of our Men’s Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, and Kendry Paez who has recently returned from a loan to join our Cobham Next Gen squad. Indeed, Guayaquil is Paez’s home city.
The official opening of the pitch took place yesterday, with Ecuadorian singer Javier Neira, known for La Tri, in attendance, performing three songs. Influencers including Anthony Lencina, Camilo Balladares, Francisco Molestina, Israel Vera and Santiago Morales alongside members of the Chelsea family and local residents watched the celebrations as the renewed pitch was unveiled.
The Guayaquil renovation is the third community facility to be refurbished this summer as part of Can’t Tame Us, with football’s generational appeal being used to bring communities together and encourage greater participation in the sport.
The project follows the launch of facilities in São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with thousands of fans visiting and using the renewed pitches.
Across all three locations, the aim is simple: to create spaces where football can be played, shared and passed from one generation to the next; using the power of the game to bring people together and help communities thrive.
Scott Fenton, Brand director at Chelsea FC, said: ‘Ecuador has a special connection with Chelsea and has produced incredible players such as Moises Caicedo, and fantastic talents like Kendry Paez. We want to build on that connection by inspiring and empowering future generations of fans and young footballers, giving them the opportunity to discover their potential, develop their skills and dream big. This community space is an important part of that commitment.’
