Co-hosts’ fast start too much for Ecuador to handle, and goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez steer Javier Aguirre’s side to the Round of 16.
Mexico’s phenomenal FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign continues apace, with Javier Aguirre’s side easing into the Round of 16 with a dominant 2-0 win over Ecuador, for whom Piero Hincapie received a late red card.
Adverse weather conditions delayed kick-off by an hour at Mexico City Stadium, and the co-hosts had clearly been champing at the bit as they tore out of the traps.
Gilberto Mora, Luis Romo, Raul Jimenez and Mora again could all have broken the deadlock in the opening quarter of an hour, and while Ecuador’s John Yeboah toe-poked an 18th minute effort against the outside of the post, it was Julian Quinones who ultimately got the scoring started with a fearsome drive four minutes later.
Roberto Alvarado bent a ball in behind the Ecuador back-line and Quinones, who was onside having been in his own half when the pass was played, tore towards goal and then almost took the net off as he lashed beyond Hernan Galindez from just inside the area.
Mexico’s only win in 14 previous contests against South American opposition at the World Cup had also come against Ecuador — when, remarkably, Aguirre was also in charge in 2002 — and they made sure of another triumph against La Tricolor with an assured second-half showing.
The team’s rearguard was expertly marshalled by Cesar Montes and Johan Vasquez — who both also almost added to the scoring with headers at corners — while goalkeeper Raul Rangel remains unbeatable and has now kept four consecutive clean sheets.
Mexico and their raucous support will now return to Mexico City Stadium on 5 July, when they will take on the winner of the Round of 32 clash between England and Congo DR.
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