Mexico vs Ecuador, FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Highlights (MEX vs ECU):
Mexico finally buried four decades of World Cup heartbreak, beating Ecuador 2-0 at a roaring Azteca to reach the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986.
After years of falling agonisingly short, El Tri delivered a performance worthy of history. A thunderstorm delayed kickoff, but once play began, Javier Aguirre’s men overwhelmed Ecuador with relentless intensity and attacking flair.
Mexico nearly broke through early as teenage sensation Gilberto Mora and Raúl Jiménez repeatedly threatened, before Julián Quiñones capped a devastating counterattack with a composed finish in the 22nd minute. Just nine minutes later, Jiménez doubled the lead after winning possession high
up the pitch and combining brilliantly with Quiñones.
Ecuador improved after the break but never truly looked capable of a comeback. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced a superb save to preserve Mexico’s clean sheet, while Hernán Galíndez denied César Montes a third goal. Ecuador’s frustrating evening ended with Piero Hincapié’s stoppage-time red card.
Four matches, four wins and four clean sheets later, Mexico have finally ended their long-standing World Cup knockout curse and now await either England or DR Congo in the Round of 16.
