Who will Mexico face in Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Ecuador?
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El Tri win first-ever knockout-round World Cup game since 1986.
Mexico delivered an overwhelming showing in front of their own fans at Mexico City Stadium. They defeated Ecuador 2-0 to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The co-hosts broke the stalemate with a well-planned offensive play that took Ecuador off guard. Julian Quiñones scored his third goal of the competition after receiving the ball from Roberto Alvarado in free space.
Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez created space near the edge of the box, allowing Jiménez to curl a finish into the top corner. It secured El Tri’s victory and advanced them to the next round.
With the victory, Javier Aguirre’s side are on track to match or improve Mexico’s best-ever World Cup performances, which were semifinal runs as hosts in 1970 and 1986.
Also read: Mexico 2-0 Ecuador: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash
Who will Mexico face in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Ecuador?
After overcoming Ecuador, El Tri will meet the winner between England and DR Congo in the Round of 16 on July 5 at Mexico City Stadium. It will keep El Tri on home soil for the second consecutive knockout round.
On paper, England would appear to be the likely next opponent, with a clear advantage over the African team. If they win, Mexico will have an opportunity for retribution. The two teams have only met once previously at a World Cup, in 1966, when the European giants prevailed 2-0 in the group stage.
If DR Congo pull off the shock, it will be their first-ever World Cup encounter with El Tri. The two sides have met once before, in a 2006 friendly. The North Americans won 2-1 in preparation for that year’s World Cup in Germany.
Who will Mexico face in the round of 16?
They will face the winner between England and DR Congo.
Where will that game be played?
Estadio Azteca in Mexico.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.