World Cup 2026: Mexico beat Ecuador to reach last 16 and end 40-year knockout drought Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory on Tuesday, beating Ecuador 2-0 to reach the last 16. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez secured El Tri's first win beyond the group stage since the 1986 tournament they hosted. Mexico turned on the style at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, brushing Ecuador aside 2-0 to end a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory.

The round-of-32 match was delayed for an hour due to stormy weather and, when it finally got under way, the co-hosts flew out of the blocks, mounting wave after wave of attacks. In a supercharged atmosphere, Julián Quiñones gave Mexico a deserved lead midway through the first half with a thunderous strike before turning provider for Raúl Jiménez. Ecuador desperately needed to wrest back the momentum after the break but struggled to find another gear, with the home side largely in control.

Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout match since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament. Tuesday's victory means they are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca and will fancy their chances against England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Mexico were one of only three teams in the group stage to win all three of their matches, alongside France and Argentina, and did not concede a single goal.

Ecuador finished third in their group, scoring just two goals. Gilberto Mora, 17, was named in the starting line-up for Mexico, becoming the second-youngest player to start a knockout match at the World Cup finals behind Pelé in 1958. The home side started on the front foot, refusing to allow a shell-shocked Ecuador to settle.

Jiménez wasted a glorious headed chance in the seventh minute and Mora flashed just wide. At the other end, John Yeboah muscled his way into the penalty area in a rare foray forward for the visitors, clipping the outside of the near post. Mexico took the lead in the 22nd minute when Saudi-based Quiñones received the ball from Roberto Alvarado and tore down the left before driving into the box and unleashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, lifting the roof off the stadium.

The first hydration break failed to change the script and Mexico doubled their lead after half an hour when Quiñones fed Fulham striker Jiménez, who fired a rocket into the top corner. Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Mbappé's brace sends France into round of 16 as Les Bleus demolish Sweden Raúl Rangel produced a fine save to keep out another Yeboah effort as Ecuador got a foothold in the match, but chances kept flowing at the other end. Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece made a number of changes after the break in an effort to find a way back into the match.

But Mexico, largely content to sit back, still looked the more threatening side, with César Montes twice going close.