Mexico ends 40-year World Cup knockout drought with 2-0 victory over Ecuador in Azteca

By Sanjay Menon — 1 July 2026 — 3 min read

Historic Win at Azteca Stadium

Mexico secured a significant World Cup victory, defeating Ecuador 2-0 in a last-32 match held at the iconic Azteca Stadium. This win marks the first time El Tri has advanced past the knockout stage since 1986, breaking a 40-year drought. The atmosphere at the stadium was described as electric, with fans roaring throughout the match.

The match, which was delayed by an hour due to an electric storm, saw Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez score the decisive goals. Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, followed by Jiménez’s strike in the 31st minute. This performance was a departure from Mexico’s more efficient, rather than exhilarating, group stage displays.

The victory is particularly meaningful for manager Javier Aguirre, who had overseen two previous early exits in 2002 and 2010 during his earlier tenures. Aguirre expressed that no other victory compared to this one, especially as it occurred at home with their supporters.

Key Performances and Match Details

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old player, delivered a notable performance, contributing significantly to Mexico’s strong start. His ability to open up the pitch and his quick feet were instrumental in the team’s early dominance. Mora’s contribution was highlighted despite the challenging weather conditions that preceded the game.

The opening goal came when Jésus Gallardo found Julián Quiñones, who then drove towards the box and scored. Raúl Jiménez, at 35 years old, added the second goal after a defensive error, exchanging passes with Quiñones before finding the net. Quiñones’s goal was his third of the tournament, making him the second-best scorer for El Tri in World Cup history, trailing only Luis “Matador” Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.

Jiménez’s goal was his second of the tournament, bringing his national team tally to 47, surpassing Jared Borgetti. He is now five goals away from tying “Chicharito” Hernández as Mexico’s all-time leading scorer. Ecuador’s best chance came from substitute Kevin Rodríguez, who poked wide. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié was dismissed in added time.

Looking Ahead to the Round of 16

Mexico will proceed to the round of 16, where they will face the winner of the match between England and DR Congo. This upcoming fixture will be played on Sunday and marks Mexico’s final home match of the tournament. Aguirre indicated that he and his staff would assess the next opponent to maintain their momentum.

The Mexican squad maintains an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches played at Azteca Stadium. Their last official loss at the venue was a World Cup qualifying defeat in September 2013. With this win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss in November.

This victory also made Mexico the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a CONMEBOL team in a World Cup knockout match, as South American teams had won the previous five encounters. Ecuador had been aiming to reach the round of 16 for the second time in their history, following their appearance in 2006.

The match’s delayed start due to the thunderstorm was the second instance of weather affecting a tournament game, following a storm during the France-Iraq match in Philadelphia on June 22.

Source: theguardian.com