World Cup 2026

Mexico joins Brazil and Italy with historic World Cup feat

Javier Aguirre’s side now knows it will face England in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. El Tri heads into the clash after matching a record previously achieved only by Brazil and Italy.

Javier Aguirre’s side now knows it will face England in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. El Tri heads into the clash after matching a record previously achieved only by Brazil and Italy.
Isaac Esquivel

Mexico is living the dream. First, it came through the group stage with a perfect record, winning all three games without conceding a goal. Then it knocked out Ecuador in the Round of 32 to book its place in the Round of 16, where it will face England.

Javier Aguirre has managed his squad masterfully, giving minutes to virtually every player except third-choice goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo. The unity within the group has been evident on the field, fueling excitement across Mexico while also benefiting from the home-field advantage of a tournament co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Mexico joins Brazil and Italy

By defeating Ecuador in its first knockout match of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico equaled a feat achieved only by Brazil in 1986 and Italy in 1990, becoming just the third nation to open a World Cup with four consecutive victories without conceding a single goal.

Mexico’s defense has been an impenetrable wall throughout the tournament. Now El Tri will try to extend that remarkable run against Harry Kane’s England after the striker scored twice against DR Congo to set up Sunday’s Round of 16 showdown at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in what promises to be one of the marquee games of the tournament.

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