World Cup
Mexico Seek Historic Knockout Progress Against Resilient Ecuador
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Co-hosts Mexico will attempt to continue their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign when they face Ecuador in a Round of 32 clash at the Mexico City Stadium, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Javier Aguirre’s side return to the iconic venue for the third time in the tournament and arrive as one of only three teams to have won all their group matches. El Tri completed a perfect Group A campaign with victories over South Africa (2-0), Korea Republic (1-0) and Czechia (3-0), while remaining the only team yet to concede a goal in the competition.
Their latest triumph saw second-half goals from Mateo Chávez, Julián Quiñones and Álvaro Fidalgo secure a convincing win over the Czechs and further underline Mexico’s credentials as genuine contenders on home soil.
Ecuador, meanwhile, battled their way into the knockout rounds after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Germany in their final Group E encounter. Goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata transformed the contest after an early setback and secured a third-place finish that was enough to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The South Americans had opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before playing out a goalless draw against World Cup debutants Curaçao.
World Cup History Favours Mexico
The two nations have met only once previously at the FIFA World Cup, with Mexico emerging 2-1 winners during the group stage of the 2002 tournament in Japan.
Ironically, Aguirre was also the Mexican coach on that occasion. Ecuador struck first through Agustin Delgado after five minutes before Jared Borgetti and Gerardo Torrado turned the match around for Mexico.
Overall, Mexico hold a significant advantage in the rivalry, having won 13 of 25 international meetings compared to Ecuador’s four victories, with eight matches ending in draws.
Their most recent encounter ended in a 1-1 friendly draw in Guadalajara in October 2024.
Mexican Momentum
Mexico’s victory over Czechia carried added significance as it made them the first Concacaf nation to reach 20 FIFA World Cup wins.
The result also extended El Tri’s record-breaking World Cup winning streak to four matches, the longest ever achieved by a Concacaf team.
Mexico have been formidable whenever hosting World Cup matches, winning six and drawing two of their last eight games on home soil while keeping clean sheets in their last six such outings.
Another encouraging statistic for the hosts is their remarkable defensive discipline. Mexico have not conceded a first-half goal in any of their last 14 World Cup matches.
Aguirre’s men are also chasing a national scoring milestone. Having scored six goals so far, they are only two strikes away from equalling Mexico’s best scoring return at a single World Cup, set in 1998.
Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa could also add another chapter to his remarkable World Cup story. The 40-year-old made his 12th World Cup appearance against Czechia, more than any other goalkeeper from a Concacaf nation.
Ecuador Chasing New History
Ecuador are appearing in the knockout phase for only the second time in their history, having previously reached the Round of 16 at Germany 2006 before losing narrowly to England.
The South Americans have shown defensive resilience under coach Sebastián Beccacece, conceding only three goals in their last 14 competitive matches.
They also carry a useful psychological advantage against Concacaf opposition, having remained unbeaten in their last three World Cup meetings with teams from the region since their defeat to Mexico in 2002.
Captain Enner Valencia continues to lead from the front. His appearance against Germany took him to nine World Cup matches, making him Ecuador’s most-capped player in the competition, surpassing the previous record held by Édison Méndez.
Familiar Faces Across Both Camps
Several players will be facing opponents they know well from club football.
Ecuador trio Jackson Porozo, Enner Valencia and Pedro Vite all play in Mexico’s domestic league. Vite shares a dressing room at Pumas with Mexico forward Guillermo Martínez, while Porozo is a teammate of teenage Mexican sensation Gilberto Mora at Tijuana.
There is also an AC Milan connection, with Mexico striker Santiago Giménez and Ecuador defender Pervis Estupiñán representing the Italian giants.
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- Mexico have won all three matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 without conceding a goal.
- Ecuador qualified as one of the best third-placed teams after defeating Germany 2-1.
- Mexico’s only World Cup victory over South American opposition came against Ecuador in 2002.
- Javier Aguirre coached Mexico in that 2-1 victory and is again in charge in 2026.
- El Tri are on a record four-match World Cup winning streak.
- Mexico have kept clean sheets in their last six World Cup matches played on home soil.
- Ecuador are appearing in the knockout stage for only the second time in their history.
- Sebastián Beccacece’s side have conceded just three goals in their last 14 competitive matches.
- Guillermo Ochoa holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by a Concacaf goalkeeper.
- Santiago Giménez and Pervis Estupiñán are teammates at AC Milan.
With history, home support and momentum on their side, Mexico will start as slight favourites. However, Ecuador’s resilience and recent comeback heroics against Germany suggest this Round of 32 showdown could be one of the most competitive knockout fixtures of the tournament.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Morocco booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands following a gripping 1-1 draw after extra time in New York on Sunday.
The Atlas Lions showed remarkable resilience, snatching an equaliser deep into stoppage time before prevailing in a nerve-racking shootout that will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary in World Cup history.
The encounter appeared to be slipping away from Morocco when Dutch forward Cody Gakpo finished off a sweeping counterattack in the 72nd minute to put the Netherlands ahead. The Liverpool attacker, who recently suffered the loss of an unborn child with his partner, was overcome with emotion after scoring and broke down in tears during his celebration.
With time running out and elimination looming, Morocco launched one final assault. Their persistence paid off in the first minute of added time when defender Issa Diop rose highest to head home a dramatic equaliser, sending the match into extra time and reigniting Moroccan hopes.
Morocco’s Issa Diop celebrates with Soufiane Rahimi after scoring the late equaliser that helped force a penalty shootout, as Morocco went on to defeat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties and advance to the Round of 16. PHOTO: REUTERS.
Neither side could find a winner during the additional 30 minutes, setting the stage for a chaotic penalty shootout.
The drama continued from the spot as both teams struggled to keep their composure. Five penalties were missed in total — a World Cup record for a shootout — with Morocco missing twice and the Netherlands failing with three attempts.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again proved his value on the biggest stage, correctly reading Crysencio Summerville’s penalty and making a crucial save that swung the contest in his side’s favour.
With the pressure mounting, Ismael Saibari stepped forward to convert the decisive spot kick, sparking wild celebrations among the Moroccan players and supporters as the African side secured a memorable victory.
The triumph keeps alive Morocco’s hopes of matching or surpassing their historic run at Qatar 2022 and reinforces the growing strength of African football on the global stage.
Morocco’s Ismael Saibari celebrates after converting the decisive penalty as the Atlas Lions defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw to advance to the Round of 16. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril.
Morocco will now face Canada in Houston on Saturday in the first Round of 16 fixture of the tournament.
The Atlas Lions’ success came on a remarkable day for African football, with Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands following Paraguay’s penalty shootout elimination of Germany. The simultaneous exits of two European heavyweights to opponents from Africa and South America may come to be viewed as another sign of the changing balance of power in world football.
For Morocco, however, the immediate focus is on the next challenge as they continue a World Cup journey that is rapidly gathering momentum.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Paraguay produced one of the biggest shocks of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, eliminating four-time champions Germany 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout after their Round of 32 encounter ended 1-1 after extra time.
Defender Jose Canale emerged as Paraguay’s hero, calmly converting the decisive spot kick to send the South Americans into the Round of 16 and bring Germany’s campaign to a premature end.
The result marked a bitter disappointment for the Germans, who saw Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all fail from the penalty spot as Paraguay held their nerve in the shootout.
Paraguay had taken the lead just before halftime through Julio Enciso. The Brighton forward met a well-delivered cross from Matias Galarza and powered a header beyond the German goalkeeper in the 42nd minute, sending the Paraguayan supporters into celebration.
Germany responded after the break and found an equaliser in the 54th minute. Florian Wirtz floated in an inviting cross from the left and Havertz glanced a header into the net to level the contest at 1-1.
The four-time world champions then pushed for a winner, but Paraguay’s disciplined defence and determined goalkeeping kept them at bay. With neither side able to break the deadlock through the remainder of normal time and extra time, the match was decided by penalties.
Paraguay proved the more composed side from 12 yards, converting four of their kicks while Germany faltered under pressure. After Havertz, Woltemade and Tah all missed, Canale stepped up to score the winning penalty and complete a famous victory.
The triumph sends Paraguay into the Round of 16, where they will face either France or Sweden in Philadelphia on July 4.
For Germany, the defeat represents a stunning early exit and continues a disappointing run of World Cup performances for a nation that once dominated the global stage. For Paraguay, meanwhile, the victory will rank among the most memorable in their World Cup history as they continue their quest for an unlikely deep run in the tournament.
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