Mexico see off Ecuador 2-0 with Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez to reach the last 16 at the Azteca
Quiñones (a goal and an assist) and Raúl Jiménez sealed an early win for the hosts, who reached the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup in a packed Azteca.
Mexico delivered for their fans and beat Ecuador 2-0 to reach the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the historic colossus holding close to 80,800 spectators and a temple of world football that staged the 1970 and 1986 finals. The hosts, backed by a full house, settled a knockout round-of-32 tie early at this 48-team World Cup co-hosted with the United States and Canada.
El Tri gave no quarter and struck inside the first half-hour. In the 22nd minute, Julián Quiñones opened the scoring after an assist from Roberto Alvarado, and in the 31st Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead from a Quiñones pass, the forward capping a goal-and-assist display. The quick double set Javier Aguirre's side on their way, lined up in a 4-3-3 with Raúl Rangel in goal.
At 2-0, Mexico managed the game with poise against an Ecuador that unravelled late. Sebastián Beccacece's team, set up in a 4-4-2 with Hernán Galíndez in goal, finished with ten men after Piero Hincapié's stoppage-time red card (90+5) and picked up three yellows (Franco, Páez and Caicedo), a sign of South American frustration.
Julián Quiñones, with a goal and an assist, was named man of the match and confirmed his fine form after already scoring in the tournament's opening game. The striker has become the hosts' main attacking reference.
With this win, Mexico advance to the round of 16, where they await the winner of England v DR Congo. El Tri, unbeaten and roared on by their fans, dream of finally breaking the quarter-final barrier at a home World Cup.