Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium, ending a 40-year drought in World Cup knockout matches and advancing to the round of 16.
12:25 AM
Mexico advanced to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, defeating Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, both scored in the first half, secured the victory.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, receiving a pass from Gilberto Mora and striking from the left side of the penalty area. Jiménez doubled the lead nine minutes later, firing from the edge of the box after a pass from Quiñones.
The match began one hour late due to severe weather conditions in Mexico City. Ecuador had filed a complaint with FIFA before the game following reports of Mexico fans gathering outside their team hotel the previous night, though the delay was caused by thunderstorms and lightning.
Mexico controlled the match from the opening whistle, dominating possession and limiting Ecuador's opportunities. Coach Javier Aguirre deployed a midfield of Erik Lira and Luis Romo alongside young playmaker Gilberto Mora, with Quiñones, Jiménez, and Roberto Alvarado leading the attack. Ecuador, managed by Sebastián Beccacece, struggled to establish their usual build-up play from the back and found few passing options.
The victory marks Mexico's first World Cup knockout win since 1986, when they defeated Bulgaria 2-0 at the same stadium. The 40-year gap between knockout victories represents a significant milestone for the Mexican national team. At the Azteca Stadium specifically, Mexico has now played ten World Cup matches with eight victories and two draws, maintaining an unbeaten record with an 86.6 percent success rate.
Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel kept a clean sheet, joining Spain's Unai Simón as the only goalkeepers in the tournament to remain undefeated. Ecuador's Hincapié was sent off in the closing stages for covering his mouth while speaking to Mexico's Santiago Giménez, becoming the second player dismissed under the tournament's new regulations.
Mexico will face the winner of Wednesday's match between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16. The match is scheduled for July 5. Mexico is one of three co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, alongside the United States and Canada. In previous World Cups held on Mexican soil—1970 and 1986—the team reached the quarterfinals, a stage it has never surpassed.
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