What’s the furthest Mexico has gone in a World Cup? Best finishes in history

Mexico will bid to emulate their best ever World Cup performance when they face England this weekend - and head coach Javier Aguirre says El Tri need a nigh-on “perfect” performance if they are to do so.

In the round of 16 on Sunday, the 2026 co-hosts welcome the Three Lions to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, where the two teams will compete for the right to face Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals.

While England are chasing a third successive last-eight berth at the men’s World Cup, the Mexicans are out to end a rather longer wait for a quarterfinal. They have not advanced that far since 1986, the last time they played the tournament on home soil.

A look back at Mexico’s best World Cup runs

Forty years ago, a team featuring Aguirre in midfield reached the quarterfinals with a last-16 win over Bulgaria - a game that witnessed Mexico’s greatest World Cup goal. Ten minutes before half time, Manuel Negrete thumped in an unstoppable scissor-kick from the edge of the area, setting up a 2-0 victory and a date with West Germany.

In their quarterfinal against the Germans, however, El Tri succumbed in a penalty shootout, after a goalless draw in San Nicolás de los Garza. Negrete was the only Mexican who scored from 12 yards, as Die Mannschaft - who went on to lose to Argentina in the final - prevailed 4-1 from the spot.

Mexico’s run in ’86 was the second quarterfinal finish in their history. A decade and a half earlier, also as World Cup hosts, the Mexicans had likewise suffered last-eight defeat to the eventual runners-up. In 1970, at a point when the quarterfinals were the opening knockout round of a 16-team event, Gigi Riva’s double inspired Italy to a 4-1 thumping of the Mexicans in Toluca.

At a glance - Mexico’s men’s World Cup record:

1930: group stage

1934: DNQ

1938: withdrew

1950: group stage

1954: group stage

1958: group stage

1962: group stage

1966: group stage

1970: quarterfinals

1974: DNQ

1978: group stage

1982: DNQ

1986: quarterfinals

1990: disqualified

1994: Round of 16

1998: Round of 16

2002: Round of 16

2006: Round of 16

2010: Round of 16

2014: Round of 16

2018: Round of 16

2022: Group stage

2026: Round of 16 (so far)

“We’re going to have to perform even better”

After a flawless group stage at the 2026 World Cup - three wins from three, no goals conceded - Mexico’s impressive campaign continued in the last 16 on Tuesday, with a dominant 2-0 win over Ecuador. Now, as they pursue record-equalling progress to the next round, Aguirre says his team will need to take their game to a new level if they’re to eliminate England.

“We’re coming up against the No. 4 team in the world rankings, a country that won the World Cup in ’66,” he said. “They’re a team that feeds off one of the best leagues in the world. They’re a top side, so we’re going to need pretty much the perfect display to beat them.

“We’ve been growing and growing as a team, but we’re going to have to perform even better. And, hopefully, we’ll also get that little bit of luck that always helps at this stage of the tournament.”

Mexico vs England: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.

In the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico and England meet in Mexico City today, Sunday, July 5, with kickoff at the Estadio Azteca scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on Fox Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo, Fox One and fubo.

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