Ecuadorian press fears Mexico: “I’d rather play against England”
Daniel Navas, a reporter for D Sports Ecuador, shared his feelings about his country’s imminent clash with Mexico in the round of 16.
Hours before the 2026 World Cup group stage concludes and the knockout round begins, several matchups remain undecided, with the Mexican national team among those still waiting to discover who they will face in a 90-minute battle for survival.
Current projections point to Ecuador as Mexico’s likely opponent after they secured a dramatic victory over Germany to advance as one of the best third-placed teams. Although Scotland can still mathematically overtake them, the combination of results required makes that scenario highly unlikely. For now, all indications are that Ecuador will face El Tri next Tuesday at Estadio Ciudad de México.
With this round-of-16 matchup appearing increasingly likely, the Ecuadorian press has already begun analysing the potential tie. The comments of Daniel Navas, a reporter for D Sports Ecuador, stood out due to his preference for the match not to happen and his desire for Ecuador to face England instead.
“I’d smile if England were the opponent. I’d rather face England than Mexico. There’s no way to choose, but if it’s England and not Mexico, that would be better,” the broadcaster said during a live segment.
Explaining his reasoning, Navas suggested that officiating decisions could potentially favour Mexico because they are one of the tournament hosts.
“I prefer that to facing a host team that might gift you something. I’d rather face a European opponent than a host nation where things happen. Let them play the way they’ve been playing and give me England,” he added.
He also pointed out that Ecuador has unfinished business with England following their round-of-16 elimination at the 2006 World Cup in Germany against the Three Lions.
"PREFIERO QUE EL RIVAL SEA INGLATERRA"
— DSPORTS Ecuador (@DSportsEC) June 26, 2026
Luego de la clasificación de Ecuador, @DanielNavasv advirtió que quiere jugar contra el equipo de Thomas Tuchel, que en 2006 eliminó al Tri en octavos de final.#FútbolTotal #MundialEnDSPORTS pic.twitter.com/z15MKKDkM8
What would have to happen for Mexico to avoid facing Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup round of 16?
Scotland is now the only other possible opponent for Mexico, as they remain the Group C team with priority as a potential rival. However, for Scotland to return to the list of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams, several results across different matches would need to go their way:
Croatia vs Ghana: Scotland would need Ghana to defeat Croatia by a margin of three goals.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: Scotland would need Uzbekistan to earn points against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Algeria vs Austria: If the first two scenarios occur, Scotland would still need Austria to beat Algeria by two goals.
Any outcome other than these three scenarios would automatically confirm Ecuador as Mexico’s round-of-16 opponent.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment