Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Thousands of fans packed the streets of Mexico City on Tuesday night after the national team defeated Ecuador 2–0, breaking a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progressing to the round of 16.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within a nine-minute span during the first half, netting the two goals that secured Mexico's victory over Ecuador in the World Cup.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Jiménez added a goal in the 31st for the Mexicans, who had not won a knockout-stage match since defeating Bulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was one of the starting midfielders in that '86 team.
Mexico lost seven consecutive times at that same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn't advance past the group stage in 2022.
Aguirre, who returned as Mexico's head coach in August of 2024, was an assistant in 1994 and was the coach in 2002 and 2010.
After the final whistle, celebrations erupted across the capital's packed streets, where friends and families had gathered to watch the game.
Some fans tossed others into the air amid the roar of the crowd.
AP Video by: Amaranta Marentes, Alexis Triboulard
Thousands of fans packed the streets of Mexico City on Tuesday night after the national team defeated Ecuador 2–0, breaking a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progressing to the round of 16.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within a nine-minute span during the first half, netting the two goals that secured Mexico's victory over Ecuador in the World Cup.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Jiménez added a goal in the 31st for the Mexicans, who had not won a knockout-stage match since defeating Bulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was one of the starting midfielders in that '86 team.
Mexico lost seven consecutive times at that same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn't advance past the group stage in 2022.
Aguirre, who returned as Mexico's head coach in August of 2024, was an assistant in 1994 and was the coach in 2002 and 2010.
After the final whistle, celebrations erupted across the capital's packed streets, where friends and families had gathered to watch the game.
Some fans tossed others into the air amid the roar of the crowd.
AP Video by: Amaranta Marentes, Alexis Triboulard
