Beautiful and beloved Mexico qualifies with authority for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. With goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, the Mexican team easily defeated Ecuador 2-0 and advanced to the next phase in which it awaits England or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The forwards Quiñones and Jiménez converted for the “Tricolor” that maintained control of the match, even when the Ecuadorians had moments of lucidity, although they relapsed into their greatest deficiency: the lack of aim in the opposing area.
Driven by more than 80,000 fans in the legendary Azteca stadium, the Mexicans began the game at a frenetic pace and quickly subdued the Ecuadorians, who showed no reaction and lacked the brave spirit shown against Germany.
The Mexican team is the best so far in the 2026 World Cup according to the figures, since it has achieved four wins in the same number of games, has an unbeaten record and has scored 8 goals.
The “Tri” dominated in the first 10 minutes in which they approached the Ecuadorian area in a dangerous way on three occasions, one of them with a header from Raúl Jiménez.
Ecuador recovered and little by little broke the lock of four defenses. In the 17th minute he reached the local area with a left-footed shot by John Yeboah that hit the crossbar.
At 22 minutes, Mexico celebrated big. Quiñones accepted a good ball from Roberto Alvarado, escaped unmarked down the left wing and, patiently, paused inside the area, in front of defender Willian Pacho’s mark, before finishing from the right into the corner to make the score 1-0.
The Ecuador squad reorganized, but in the 31st minute they received a second blow. Another great goal from the hosts. Jiménez put a wall on Quiñones, who provided an assist for the West Ham attacker to make it 2-0 with a shot into the corner. 2-0 and the Mexican fans exploded with happiness.
In the second half, Mexico leaned back waiting for a counterattack and Ecuador was forced to attack, although without precision.
Then, Mexico made an unsuccessful move on the right wing with Brian Gutiérrez, who had replaced the star Gilberto Mora, who tonight became the second youngest player to start in the history of the World Cup at 17 years and 259 days, 20 days older than Pelé when he faced Wales in Sweden 1958.
Ecuador was close to scoring in the 74th minute. Kevin Rodríguez won the race against César Montes and finished with goalkeeper Raúl Rangel defeated, but he shot wide.
Ecuador’s bad night was confirmed in ’95 with the expulsion of its defender Piero Hincapié, who covered his mouth to, presumably, offend a rival.
With this triumph, in the next round of the 16 best of the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican team will face the winner of the match between England and DR Congo on Sunday, July 5 (8 pm ET) at the Azteca stadium.
If Mexico beats Congo or England, it will equal its best performance in World Cups, achieved the two previous times when it hosted, in 1970 and 1986.
The word of the “Basque”
The Mexico coach, Javier “Vasco” Aguirre, assured, after the 2-0 victory against Ecuador in the round of 32 match of the 2026 World Cup, that the game exhibited in the first half is close to what he wants.
«The first half looks a lot like what we want. “We are facing a great team like Ecuador,” said Aguirre just after the match played in the Mexican capital.
Regarding the atmosphere at the Azteca Stadium, Aguirre stated that he was very happy. “I haven’t seen the Azteca this way in about 40 years.”
The “Tri” offered one of its best performances, so Aguirre described the victory over Ecuador as the best in his career as a coach, but he hoped to go for more in this World Cup.
«I had to beat Brazil in a Copa América; to Italy, to other great teams, but like today’s victory, none, because it was at home with our people,” said the “Vasco” at a press conference.
“It was difficult to defeat Ecuador, but we were brave, we worked the game and in the second half the boys were intelligent, although they gave us a couple of ‘cons’ and we didn’t know how to take advantage of them,” he said.
«We are very motivated, the first thing will be to recover the players who ended up very tired; then to continue working,” he concluded.
This is how they aligned
– Mexico (2): Raúl Rangel; Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vásquez, César Montes, Jorge Sánchez; Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora (Brian Gutiérrez, m.59), Luis Romo (Obed Vargas m.73); Roberto Alvarado (Israel Reyes, m.80), Raúl Jiménez (Santiago Giménez, m.73); Julián Quiñones (Orbelín Pineda, m.80).
– Selector: Javier Aguirre.
– Ecuador (0): Hernán Galindez; Piero Hincapié, Joel Ordóñez (Ángel Preciado, d.46), Willian Pacho; Pedro Vite, Alan Franco (Yaimar Medina, m.46), Moisés Caicedo; John Yeboah (Jordy Caicedo, m.79), Enner Valencia (Kevin Rodríguez, m.59), Gonzalo Plata, Nilson Angulo (Kendry Páez, m.79).
– Selector: Sebastián Beccacece (Argentine).
– Goals: 1-0, m.22: Quiñones. 2-0, m.31: Jiménez.
– Referee: Slavko Vincic, from Slovenia. He expelled Hincapié (m.95). He admonished Franco, Páez and Moisés Caicedo.
– Incidents: Round of 32 match of the 2026 World Cup, held before 80,824 fans at the Mexico City Stadium, known as Azteca.
(With a report from Gustavo Borges, from EFE)
