MEXICO advanced confidently into the last 16 of the World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca, a result shaped by first-half goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez and a late red card for the South Americans.
The round-of-32 tie in Mexico City was scheduled to kick off at 7pm local time (01:00 GMT) but was delayed by approximately an hour as thunderstorms, heavy rain and lightning swept across the area. Play eventually got under way once conditions eased.
Once the match began, the co-hosts quickly imposed themselves. Quiñones opened the scoring with a powerful finish, before Jiménez doubled Mexico’s advantage in the 31st minute with a composed strike that underlined the hosts’ early dominance.
Mexico’s control of the contest was further strengthened by Ecuador’s numerical setback late on, when Piero Hincapié was dismissed in the fifth minute of stoppage time after covering his mouth during a confrontation with an opposing player, reducing his side to ten men.
The result extends Mexico’s perfect record in the tournament and secures their progression to the round of 16, where they will remain at the Estadio Azteca to face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo. - July 1, 2026
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