Mexico Advances to World Cup Round of 16 as All Teams from Germany’s Group Are Eliminated
Mexico secured their place in the World Cup Round of 16 thanks to first-half goals by Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, who had also scored in their opening victory against South Africa. This win came at the expense of Ecuador, ending their tournament run.
At just 17 years old, Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to start a knockout stage match since Pelé did so back in 1958. His appearance marked a historic moment for the tournament.
This result means every team from Germany’s group has been knocked out before the Round of 16. The four-time world champions themselves were surprisingly eliminated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Côte d'Ivoire fell to Norway after a late goal from Erling Haaland. Group F teams also exited after losses to the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden.
Ecuador finished their campaign having failed to score in three out of four matches; their only goal came in the 2-1 victory over Germany. In contrast, Mexico remain the only team that has yet to concede a single goal throughout the tournament.
In a dramatic moment during injury time, former Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié was shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opposing player. Looking ahead, Mexico will enjoy strong home support when they face the winner of the upcoming match between England and DR Congo in the next round.
