Mexico’s Raul Jimenez scored a first-half goal to help spark a 2-0 win over Ecuador in a Round of 32 match at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday in Mexico City. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez each scored against Ecuador, giving the Mexicans their first World Cup knockout stage victory in 40 years.
Quinones and Jimenez each found the net in the first half of the Round of 32 matchup, which was delayed due to lightning Tuesday in Mexico City.
With the 2-0 win, the No. 9 Mexicans advanced to the Round of 16, where they will meet No. 4 England or the No. 41 DR Congo.
The Mexicans outshot No. 24 Ecuador 15-7 in their first knockout stage win since 1986. The Ecuadorians held a 57% to 43% advantage in possession and edged the hosts 410-316 in passes.
Forward Roberto Alvarado triggered the game’s first goal by sending a chip over the Ecuadorian defense, finding Quinones down the left flank. Quinones tapped the ball ahead, dribbled into the box and touched right. He finished the play by ripping a shot into the near-post netting, beating goalie Hernan Galindez in the 22nd minute.
Quinones went on to assist the Mexicans’ second score less than 10 minutes later.
He received a pass at the top of the Ecuador box during that sequence. Quinones used his second touch to find Jimenez, who booted a 16-yard shot past a diving Galindez in the 31st minute.
Earlier Tuesday, No. 21 Norway advanced with a 2-1 win over the No. 31 Ivory Coast. Top-ranked France beat No. 37 Sweden 3-0 in the second Round of 32 match of the day.
Mexico will host England or the DR Congo in the Round of 16 at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday in Mexico City. The winner will meet No. 5 Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Argentina is the favorite to be the team the winner of that quarterfinal would meet in a semifinal.
England will battle the DR Congo in another Round of 32 match at noon Wednesday in Atlanta. No. 10 Belgium will face No. 18 Senegal in the second game of the day at 4 p.m. in Seattle. The winner of that matchup will face the No. 15 United States or No. 61 Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16. The Americans and Bosnians will face off in Wednesday’s nightcap at 8 p.m. in Santa Clara, Calif.
FIFA World Cup: Norway defeats Ivory Coast
Norway’s Erling Haaland (C) joins the team and coaches as they celebrate defeating the Ivory Coast 2-1 in their Round of 32 FIFA World Cup match in Dallas on June 30, 2026. Norway defeated the Ivory Coast 2-1. Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
