The Mexican team had a historic night at the Azteca stadium by defeating Ecuador 2-0 and qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, achieving its first victory in a direct elimination round since the 1986 World Cup.
The team led by Javier Aguirre took advantage of the support of more than 80,000 fans to impose conditions from the beginning. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a quick offensive transition, while Raúl Jiménez extended the lead in the 31st minute with a powerful shot after a combination with Quiñones himself.
Mexico dominated the first half with intensity and high pressure. One of the protagonists was Gilberto Mora, the 17-year-old promise, who once again stood out for his display and creativity before being applauded by the fans in the second half.
Ecuador tried to react with approaches from Nilson Angulo and John Yeboah, but were met with a solid performance from goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. The chances of a comeback were reduced even more after the expulsion of Piero Hincapié in the final stretch of the match.
With this result, Tricolor maintains a perfect tournament: four consecutive victories and no goals conceded. In addition, the historic Azteca stadium continues to be a strength for the Mexican team, which will now seek to reach the semifinals of a World Cup for the first time.
In the quarterfinals, Mexico will face the winner of the duel between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The celebration for the classification brought together thousands of fans in different parts of Mexico City. However, authorities reported the death of two people during the celebrations. On the Ecuadorian side, the elimination caused the departure of coach Sebastián Beccacece.
With excitement at its highest point, Mexican fans once again dream of a historic performance in the World Cup organized by Mexico, the United States and Canada.
