Mexico, USA punch Round of 32 tickets first at 2026 World Cup
El Tri and the USMNT secure knockout berths with gritty wins, setting up Group D’s late drama on home soil.
Mexico and the USA became the first co-hosts to punch their tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday, leveraging home soil to set knockout-stage storylines early. El Tri secured their knockout berth with a 1–0 victory over South Korea in Dallas, thanks to a 90+3-minute winner from the bench. The goal came off a set-piece routine that left South Korea’s defense scrambled and goalkeeper in no-man’s-land.
The win preserved Mexico’s perfect group-stage record and handed South Korea their first loss in the tournament. The late strike underscored Mexico’s resilience under pressure, a trait that could prove decisive in the knockout rounds. Across the border, the USMNT booked their Round of 32 spot with a 2–0 win over Australia in Philadelphia.
