MEXICO CITY — What if?!
The announced Estadio Azteca crowd of 80,824 shouted the latest rallying cry, meaning “What if?”
This is a fitting answer to all the questions facing Mexico heading into the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 match against Ecuador on Tuesday, June 30th. Ecuador had too much talent. Ecuador got hot at the right time. El Tri hadn’t won a knockout match in 40 years. There was no way I could catch up with La Tri.
What if?
After an hour delay due to rain, the world got its answer with a 2-0 victory for El Tri.
Mexico made a big departure from coach Javier Aguirre’s usually conservative playing style and showed a ferocious attack. This time they continued their attack. Julián Quiñones scored his third goal of the tournament on the counter, evading the Ecuadorian defense and evading into the box to take a shot, overwhelming Ecuador in their own half. He added another goal nine minutes later with a perfect assist to Raul Jimenez.
After the final whistle, chaos ensued at the Estadio Azteca. Beer was thrown. So did the empty cup. All the while, supporters followed tradition by singing “El Rey.”
And yes, they did.
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Time ran out on Ecuador’s comeback attempt. Mexico was able to stop the bus in the second half and shut out yet another opponent, achieving their fourth consecutive clean sheet and securing their first knockout stage victory in 40 years.
El Tri will face the winner of England vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo at the Estadio Azteca in the round of 16 on Sunday, July 5.
La Tri will not be able to leave Mexico City without another warning from the authorities. This time, it was Kendry Paes who picked up what was initially called a yellow for a hard tackle inside Mexico’s half, but after further review it was decided that Paes’ attack deserved a red card in stoppage time.
After colliding with an Ecuadorian player, the goalkeeper was briefly treated on the ground before getting up and restarting play.
Wow! He played a perfect ball into the box and headed it into the goal. Ecuador made the save! Immediately after that, a near-repeat of the first corner occurred, but this time his header went wide of the right.
La Tri keeps the ball in El Tri’s third as Mexico protects their 2-0 lead but is unable to break through.
The 17-year-old had won the admiration of the home crowd, who sent him off with a roar after he was sent off in the 58th minute to be replaced by Brian Gutierrez.
Mexican submarine:
- outside: Gilberto Mora
- in: Brian Gutierrez
Ecuadorian submarine:
- outside:Ender Valencia
- in:Kevin Rodriguez
- Outside: Joel Ordoñez, Alan Franco
- in: Angelo Preciado, Yaymar Medina
The last time Mexico won a knockout stage match was at this very stadium in 1986, when they beat Bulgaria 2-0. El Tri are 45 minutes away from their first win in 40 years and everyone is feeling it. In a surprising change from Aguirre Ball, El Tri went on the attack and dominated the early minutes of possession.
Julián Quiñones continued to play at an unreal level and scored his third goal of the tournament in the 22nd minute, taking the ball coast-to-coast, past defenders and into the back of the net. Nine minutes later, he set up Raul Jimenez at the top of the box for his first assist, extending Mexico’s lead to two points.
El Tri’s attack was suffocating. He took 10 shots with 9 touches inside the opponent’s box. Only two of those shots were on target, but both resulted in goals.
After a physically shaky first 45 minutes, the referee finally gave Ecuadorian defender Alan Franco his first warning of the night.
Willian Pacho misfired a clearance to Jimenez. He then cut inside and fed the ball to Julián Quiñones, who evaded Alan Franco and fed the ball to Jiménez at the top of the box for El Tri’s second goal of the night in the 31st minute.
The Estadio Azteca crowd let out the latest screams of joy as an emotional Jimenez lay on the grass and his teammates piled on top of him to celebrate. What if?
Mexico will play Ecuador in the Round of 32 with the aim of advancing to the next round. El Tri have not lost in a competitive match at the Estadio Azteca since defeating Mexico 2-1 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on September 6, 2013.
This defeat is remembered as one of the biggest “Aztecasos” in Mexican soccer history, and was the last time an opponent defeated Mexico in an official match at this iconic stadium. The only other loss was against Costa Rica during World Cup qualifying in 2001.
Mexico’s dominance over the Aztecs will be even stronger on the World Cup stage. El Tri has never lost a World Cup match at this stadium, which has hosted some of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
Ecuador are aiming to advance to the round of 16 and will also try to end a 13-year unbeaten run at home.
Quiñones poked Alan Franco’s loose ball and the ball ended up hitting Roberto “El Piojo” Alvarado, who counterattacked and passed the ball back to Quiñones. The Saudi Professional League’s top scorer carried the ball from the pitch into the box, past the defenders and fired into the goal for his third goal of the World Cup.
El Tri were in full control until the 15th minute, with the exception of Piero Hincapie’s dangerous cross into the box from Pedro Vité, which was narrowly cleared by Cesar Montes’ header.
Mexico dominated the ball 62% of the time, had four touches and five shots inside the opponent’s box, but none were on target.
Perhaps it’s the energy of the crowd. Perhaps it was the energy the players had built up after the hour delay. El Tri attacked aggressively in the first five minutes of the game, very different from Javier Aguirre’s usual style of play.
Officially leaving the Estadio Azteca an hour late, the atmosphere inside the building is as lively as ever.
Just before the national anthem, a ceremony was held at Estadio Azteca to honor the victims of last weekend’s earthquake in Venezuela. The crowd chanted “No Esta Solo!” All at once, over and over again.
Ecuador took to the Estadio Azteca pitch to loud boos and chants of “Clero” from the home crowd. Moments later, bitterness quickly turned to love as Mexico took to the pitch and El Tri were greeted with deafening cheers.
El Tri will officially face La Tri at 8pm local time/10pm ET.
The clouds above El Coloso de Santa Ursula are disappearing. The rain seems to have stopped, but the rest of the bad weather continues. No new start time has been announced at this time, but it could happen sooner rather than later.
The rain hasn’t gotten much worse, but the lightning hasn’t let up at all in the past 30 minutes or so, prompting match officials to “temporarily” postpone the game. A new start time has not yet been specified.
However, Mexican fans weren’t too upset as Juan Gabriel’s classic “Hasta Que Te Conocí” got everyone back in the singing mood.
El Tri has announced the official starting squad for the Round of 32 match against Ecuador, selected by coach Javier Aguirre.
- Goalkeeper: Raoul Rangel
- Defender: Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes (C), Johan Vazquez, Jesus Gallardo
- Midfielder: Gilberto Mora, Eric Lira, Luis Romo
- forward: Roberto Alvarado, Julián Quiñones, Raul Jimenez
Speaking of thunder, when an Ecuadorian bus was once shown heading into the Jumbotron locker room, a chorus of bird boos immediately broke out.
So did I mention the lightning hasn’t struck yet? Please forget about that.
Mexico City’s unpredictable weather has largely held out in El Tri’s previous two matches at this venue. Not so today. It’s starting to rain lightly on the pitch, the sky is completely gray and we don’t know when it will stop. I could hear some thunder, but no thunder so far.
The players stepped off the bus, and the crowd, who had been watching their arrival over the jumbotron, erupted into cheers. Coach Javier Aguirre and his team made a short pit stop to pray in front of Virgen de Guadalupe before heading through the tunnel and entering the locker room.
It’s a gloomy day in Mexico City, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the supporters who gathered at the stadium today. They are chanting and singing loudly as usual.
As is tradition for each match at this World Cup, El Tri’s team bus route from El Centro de Alto Rendimiento to the stadium will be broadcast live on jumbotrons, with fans both in their seats and along the way awaiting Mexico’s arrival in the last-32 match.
The matchup kicks off at 9pm ET.
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- Seth Terny: Mexico 1-0 Ecuador – This is a terrible draw for Mexico as group winners. However, El Tri should be able to perform well at home against a team that has been goalless for most of this tournament.
- john arnold: Mexico 1-0 Ecuador – This is a cruel “reward” for Mexico who made it through the group stage flawlessly, but while Ecuador are a tough team, El Tri were able to play their game and break through thanks to their attacking set-pieces.
- Jesse Yomtov: Mexico 1-0 Ecuador (overtime) – If this had not been played in Azteca, it would probably have been against Ecuador, but El Tri will emerge victorious in the long-awaited final tournament.
- victoria hernandez: Mexico 2-0 Ecuador – Mexico were the only team to win all three of their group stage matches and bid an emotional farewell to Memo Ochoa. They will continue to improve in order to continue in the World Cup.
Today’s Mexico lineup
Lineup will be announced approximately 1 hour before kickoff
Today’s Ecuador lineup
Lineup will be announced approximately 1 hour before kickoff
The Round of 32 matches will be held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Tuesday’s round of 32 matchup against Ecuador will kick off at 9pm ET.
If Mexico wins against Ecuador, El Tri will face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo. July 5th Estadio Azteca In Mexico City.
Mexico has never won a World Cup, but this will be their 18th appearance in an international tournament. The team’s best ever finishes were in the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986, both times as hosts.
Mexico has lost eight games in a row.
World Cup match between Mexico and Ecuador 8pm Central Time.
Ecuador first participated in the tournament in 2002 and has never won a World Cup. The country’s best result was reaching the last 16 in 2006.
Mexico and Ecuador will play 6pm Pacific Time Tuesday in Mexico City.
Explore USA TODAY Sports’ latest brackets here.
