Mexico breaks 40 years without winning in qualifying rounds and advances to the round of 16 in Qatar 2026
El Tri beat Ecuador 2-0 with goals from Quiñones and Jiménez at Azteca, sealing their historic pass to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico broke a 40-year drought without victories in World Cup qualifiers by beating Ecuador 2-0 in the round of 16 of Qatar 2026. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 17th minute after a cross from Edson Álvarez that the forward defined with a cross shot. Raúl Jiménez, at 33, sealed the result with a header after a corner taken by Luis Chávez.
The match, played at the Azteca Stadium, left Ecuador with few clear scoring options and Mexico controlling the pace of the game. Coach Javier Aguirre aligned a solid tactical scheme, with three defenders and two holding midfielders who neutralized Ecuador's offensive attempts. Defensive solidity and attacking effectiveness were key for El Tri to advance to the next phase.
