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Thousands of fans flooded the streets of Mexico City on Tuesday night after the national team secured a 2-0 victory over Ecuador. This triumph ended a four-decade knockout stage drought, propelling them into the tournament's Round of 16.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez netted the two goals that sealed Mexico's World Cup win against Ecuador, with both strikes coming within nine minutes in the first half.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, and Jiménez added a second in the 31st for the Mexicans, who hadn't won a knockout match since defeating Bulgaria in the Round of 16 at their home World Cup in 1986. Mexico's coach, Javier Aguirre, was one of the starting midfielders in that '86 squad.
Mexico had previously suffered seven consecutive exits at the same stage of the tournament between 1994 and 2018, and failed to advance past the group stage in 2022.
Aguirre, who returned to lead Mexico in August 2024, served as an assistant coach in 1994 and as head coach in 2002 and 2010.
Following the final whistle, jubilant celebrations erupted across the capital's packed streets, where friends and families had gathered to watch the match.
Amidst the roar of the crowd, some fans were seen tossing others into the air, a clear expression of their overwhelming joy.
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