Historic Victory at Azteca Stadium

By Arjun Nair / 01.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 1 July 2026 — 3 min read

Historic Victory at Azteca Stadium

Mexico has ended a 40-year drought in the World Cup knockout stage, securing a 2-0 victory over Ecuador. The match, held at the iconic Azteca Stadium, saw goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez in the first half, propelling El Tri into the round of 16. This marks Mexico‘s first knockout stage win since they hosted the tournament in 1986, where they defeated Bulgaria.

The atmosphere at Azteca Stadium was described as electric, with the crowd roaring and pulsating throughout the evening. The game commenced after an electrical storm, which heightened anticipation among fans. Despite the weather, Mexico‘s performance was irresistible, especially in the opening period.

The team’s undefeated record at Azteca Stadium in World Cup matches now extends to 10 games. This victory also extends Mexico‘s overall unbeaten run to 12 games.

Key Performances and Goals

The scoring began in the 22nd minute when Julián Quiñones found the net. His goal came after left-back Jesús Gallardo clipped the ball to him just inside his own half. Quiñones then drove towards the box, working the ball onto his right foot before striking it into the goal.

Nine minutes later, in the 31st minute, Raúl Jiménez added Mexico‘s second goal. Jiménez benefited from a clearance by Joel Ordóñez, exchanging passes with Quiñones before scoring past Hernán Galíndez. This was Quiñones‘ third goal of the tournament, making him El Tri‘s second-best scorer in World Cup history, while Jiménez scored his second goal of the tournament.

A standout performance came from Gilberto Mora, who played a crucial role in Mexico‘s excellent opening period. His range and scope, combined with quick feet, allowed him to open up the pitch from his position on the right side of a midfield three. Mora‘s contribution was instrumental in creating opportunities for Mexico.

Looking Ahead to the Round of 16

Following this victory, Mexico will play another home match on Sunday. Their opponent will be the winner of the match between England and Congo, which is scheduled for Wednesday. This upcoming fixture will be the last of this summer’s matches to take place in Mexico.

Coach Javier Aguirre expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly noting the significance of winning a knockout game at home. He mentioned that this victory was especially meaningful as he belonged to a generation that had not previously managed to take this step. Aguirre‘s previous stints in charge in 2002 and 2010 also saw early exits from the tournament.

Ecuador, who were attempting to advance to the round of 16 for the second time in their history, had little to celebrate. Their best chance came through substitute Kevin Rodríguez, who poked wide. Additionally, Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié was dismissed in added time for violating mouth-covering rules.

Mexico‘s goalkeeper, Raúl Rangel, made a crucial save before the interval, ensuring Aguirre‘s team could manage the second half comfortably. Mexico has now become the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a CONMEBOL side in a World Cup knockout match, breaking a streak where South American teams had won the previous five meetings.

Aguirre indicated that he would be assessing the next opponent by watching the England versus DR Congo game. He emphasized the need for the team to remain sharp between now and Sunday to maintain their momentum and deliver another complete performance.

Source: theguardian.com