Co-hosts Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory after defeating Ecuador 2-0 at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday to secure a place in the Round of 16.
The Round of 32 encounter was delayed by an hour due to severe weather, but the interruption did little to slow the hosts, who dominated from the opening whistle with a series of relentless attacks.
Mexico’s pressure paid off midway through the first half when Julian Quinones unleashed a powerful strike to give the home side a deserved lead. The forward later turned provider, setting up Raúl Jiménez to double the advantage before halftime.
Ecuador struggled to mount a response after the break, as Mexico maintained control of possession and comfortably protected their lead until the final whistle.
The victory marked Mexico’s first win in a World Cup knockout match since 1986, the last time the country hosted the global tournament, ending four decades of frustration.
Head coach Javier Aguirre, leading Mexico at the World Cup for the third time, admitted the result held special significance after previous disappointments.
Reflecting on the historic achievement, Aguirre joked that he deserved a glass of Scotch to celebrate ending the long-standing curse.
He recalled falling short of reaching the fifth match during his previous World Cup campaigns in South Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010, describing Tuesday’s triumph as a moment of unity between the team and its supporters.
Aguirre praised the squad’s togetherness, calling them a “true family” and insisting they fully deserved their place among the tournament’s final 16 teams.
The result also extended Mexico’s impressive unbeaten World Cup record at the Azteca Stadium to 10 matches, boosting confidence ahead of a Round of 16 showdown against either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mexico have been one of the standout teams at the tournament, winning all three group-stage matches without conceding a goal—an achievement matched only by France and Argentina.
Another milestone came before kickoff as 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match, behind only Pelé, who achieved the feat for Brazil in 1958.
