{"id":215561,"date":"2026-07-01T09:28:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T09:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/mexico-ease-past-ecuador-to-reach-world-cup-2026-last-16-as-hincapie-sent-off-late-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:28:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T09:28:23","slug":"mexico-ease-past-ecuador-to-reach-world-cup-2026-last-16-as-hincapie-sent-off-late-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/mexico-ease-past-ecuador-to-reach-world-cup-2026-last-16-as-hincapie-sent-off-late-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico ease past Ecuador to reach World Cup 2026 last 16 as Hincapie sent off late: Live updates and reaction – The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mexico<\/strong> didn\u2019t want to be the first co-hosts to be eliminated from the World Cup tonight. El Tri played with an intensity that devoured Ecuador from the onset and increased the belief among Mexicans this team could make history.
Mexico had not won a knockout game since 1986, the last time they hosted the tournament. The home crowds in Mexico City and Guadalajara have been a major factor in the team\u2019s success thus far.
Now, Mexico will wait to see if England defeat DR Congo and set up one of the most anticipated round of 16 matches in recent World Cup history.
Canada have booked their place in the round of 16. The U.S. hope to do the same versus Bosnia and Herzegovina. But Mexico staying alive has arguably an even greater impact.
My goodness. Look at those scenes.
It\u2019s going to be some party in Mexico City and across the country tonight.
The breathtaking celebrations are on in Mexico City after El Tri's historic win 🤯 pic.twitter.com\/k6nJRTInxX<\/a>
And this one, I really like. It shows you on average where each player was on the pitch, and which passing combinations were most common per team.
For Ecuador, you can see they really struggled to progress the ball forward and got a bit bogged down in midfield.
As for Mexico, it\u2019s another big tick alongside the name of Gilberto Mora<\/strong> \u2014 and player I want to watch as much as possible over what already looks like being a career with huge potential.
The expected goals plot shows that too, which Mexico comfortably ahead on chances created as well as converted.
Kevin Rodriguez<\/strong> prodding wide of the goal when Rangel came out to met him is that big step for Ecuador on 74 minutes \u2014 seemingly the one major chance La Tri had to get back into the game.
Even with Mexico sitting back, that was pretty much the final hurrah.
Let\u2019s get stuck into a couple more visualisations from the game, starting here with the states.
The way Mexico backs off from the game with a 2-0 lead heading into the second half means, these should be read as Ecuador trying \u2014 and failing \u2014 to make something happen as Mexico allowed them the ball and possession.
It is not the case that these figures prove Ecuador deserved more from the game. They didn\u2019t.
Here is Mexico midfielder Erik Lira<\/strong>, speaking on local television after the final whistle.
💬 \u201cWe\u2019re a family. It doesn\u2019t matter who plays; we want to show people what Mexico is all about. The ceiling is so high for us. We\u2019re just getting started. Let\u2019s see how far we can go.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
With Austin Green<\/em> breaking down who has already made it through, let\u2019s have a look at the remaining round of 32 ties coming up over the next three days.
Wednesday:<\/strong>
Thursday<\/strong>
Friday<\/strong>
So that\u2019s eight teams from Europe, six from Africa and two from South America among those fighting to make the last 16 alongside those already through.
Seven out of 16 games in this round of 32 are done. Here is the continental breakdown of the last 16 teams so far.
In the days ahead of this game, there were divided opinions in Mexico<\/strong> over the potential of this team.
A couple of the players came out with spunky public statements: \u201cIf you ask me, we should be making the final,\u201d said midfielder Obed Vargas<\/strong>.
But that level of optimism was not quite replicated in the local press: \u201cPeople are trying to inflate a product that\u2019s only average \u2026 We need to keep our feet on the ground,\u201d Rene Tovar<\/strong>, the editor of sports newspaper Record, wrote on social media.
That directive looks irrelevant now. This was the night Mexico took flight, gravity be damned. And beyond all the light and magic of their goals, this was just a very commanding team performance.
The North American teams to make it into the round of 32 are the three co-hosts: Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Canada<\/strong> won its first knockout game at a World Cup on Sunday. Mexico<\/strong> just snapped a 40-year drought without a knockout-stage win.
The pressure on the USMNT to get its first knockout win in 24 years against Bosnia and Herzegovina tomorrow night was already massive. Now it has increased further.
If they were to become the only co-host at this World Cup to bow out before the last 16, it would be an abject disaster.
Raul Jimenez<\/strong> missed a big chance early on, but more than made amends for it with a stunning finish for Mexico\u2019s second goal.
That came after Julian Quinones<\/strong> had sent a rocket into the back of the net eight minutes earlier.
Two goals for the Mexicans from an xG of 1.01 \u2014 they now have eight goals at this World Cup from 4.74 xG.
And they are the only side, alongside Spain, yet to concede.
There\u2019s a reason we all circled a potential round of 16 clash between Mexico<\/strong> and England<\/strong> at Estadio Azteca practically as soon as the World Cup draw happened.
Tonight showed why.
Mexico believe they can beat anyone at their famed national stadium, and given they have not lost there in a competitive match in 13 years \u2014 and have never lost there at a World Cup \u2014 who can blame them?
England must still get past DR Congo, but if they do, they\u2019re in for a massive challenge.
Here is what you guys made of Mexico\u2019s big victory over Ecuador at an electric Estadio Azteca:
💬 Richard C:<\/strong> \u201cReally it was a tough game. Ecuador had some shots on target, but they lacked sufficient coordination and intensity. You could see Mexico\u2019s players taking chances that not many *would* take, because of a trust in unpredictability. And unpredictability, well, it won the match for Mexico. That and a strong defense throughout the second half.\u201d
💬 Lenxo D:<\/strong> \u201cI can\u2019t remember the last time I saw Mexico play this confident and attacking minded. This team plays so well together.\u201d
💬 Brennan L:<\/strong> \u201cWhat a fantastic game by Mexico. They are gonna be tough for England to beat at Azteca.\u201d
💬 Anonymous: <\/strong>\u201cZero goals conceded in four matches. Holy crap that\u2019s good.\u201c
💬 Rafael T:<\/strong> \u201cLook at the atmosphere tonight, it\u2019s a disgrace this final isn\u2019t at the Azteca. One of the great football grounds.\u201d
💬 Robert J:<\/strong> \u201cMexico had some pace to start, but overall that effort won\u2019t be good enough against the English.\u201d
More here from Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre<\/strong> \u2014 who was asked if this was Mexico\u2019s best game in World Cup history:
💬 \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say because there have been great performances. Was it a complete performance? Perhaps. Our attacking transitions need to improve. Tonight we were deserved winners.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Aguirre was then asked about whether he would like DR Congo or England in the round of 16:
💬 \u201cI can\u2019t choose the opponent. If it\u2019s England, well, we\u2019ll be watching to see what happens.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
The only thing missing from tonight: \u201cA glass of whiskey.\u201d
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre<\/strong> is speaking \u2014 first up addressing Mexico winning a first knockout game since 1986:
💬 \u201cThe relationship we have the with people of Mexico has given us a major boost. It was a demanding game but it turned into a beautiful night for the Mexican people.<\/em><\/strong>
\u201cIt\u2019s a group of players who deserve what they\u2019re experiencing. We\u2019re among the best 16 teams in the world. We\u2019re highly motivated. We\u2019re a family. That\u2019s the truth. We played good football tonight. <\/em><\/strong>
\u201cThere\u2019s no tomorrow for the losers. But again, the people in the stands deserved a night like this. My third grandchild was born last night and he brought this luck.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Missed tonight\u2019s match and want to know all about how Mexico booked their place in the last 16?
Want to know all about the magic of Julian Quinones<\/strong>\u2019 goal?
Look no further than the latest edition of The Briefing, <\/em>where our writers have broken down all the key talking points \u2014 and we will bring you some of the big observations in here too. Don\u2019t go anywhere.
GO FURTHER
Mexico defeat Ecuador for first World Cup knockout win since 1986, how far can Azteca magic take them?
A World Cup legend finally gets to see his team win a World Cup knockout match!
Guillermo Ochoa<\/strong> will be one happy man.
Team Stats
MEX
ECU
Game Details<\/p>\n

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World CupFIFA WorldCup 2026AdvertisementliveUpdated 2h agoMexico have booked their place in the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup after beating Ecuador 2-0 at Estadio Azteca.Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez got the goals in a dominant first half for the co-hosts, and they were untroubled as they closed out the win in the second half. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-215561","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}