Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre expressed hope that local fans will change the situation. Three When World Cup hosts meet Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Tuesday in the round of 16 in a match between two Latin American teams.
Having emerged from the group stage with a strong record and not conceding a single goal, Mexico should be at their best in the knockout stage against Ecuador – perhaps their toughest test yet.
“Our home crowd is our 12th man,” Aguirre told reporters Monday of the tens of thousands of fans who have filled the stadium since the World Cup began on June 11. “I don’t want to say we don’t have support elsewhere, but we know we have a whole country behind us and that motivates us a lot. I would say we’re all looking forward to what’s to come.”
“It’s true that right now, this week or the last two, there’s a lot of joy inside as well,” Aguirre said. “You can tell just by watching training. They’re serious during training, but when it comes to making changes, they’re disciplined. I feel… I’ve been in and out of the national team, but we’re in a good place.”
Mexico made it three wins from three group stage matches, although Aguirre’s men had to work harder than expected to overcome opponents South Africa and the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Ecuador finished third in Group E behind Germany and Ivory Coast.
To beat Ecuador, Mexico will once again rely on the attacking prowess of Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, as well as the fresh energy of young midfielder Gilberto Mora.
“We expect the Ecuadorian team to be very dynamic; they have shown they are fast and strong, but we are looking to continue to defend well,” midfielder Obed Vargas told reporters. “It will be a very difficult match, but we are confident that with the support of our fans we will be able to overcome them.”
Vargas noted that finishing in Group A without conceding a goal gave confidence, but the team remained stagnant.
“We are very proud of our work in the first stage… but that is in the past; now we must focus on what lies ahead,” said Vargas, who plays for Atletico Madrid. “If we don’t win, we’ll be out. That’s the mentality we need in this match and that’s why we’ll come out and give everything for this country.”
In addition to home field advantage, the Mexicans will benefit from the capital’s 2,240 meters (7,349 feet) altitude, a factor that could make life difficult for the Ecuadorians.
Although the team was accustomed to playing qualifying matches at high altitude in Quito, Ecuador (2,850 meters, 9,350 feet), they established their base for this World Championship in Ohio, and their tournament path did not take them to altitudes comparable to those of Mexico City.
Julian Quiñones trains with the Mexico team ahead of Wednesday’s match against Ecuador. EPA/SASHENKA GUTIERREZ
Coach Sebastian Beccacece’s team even tried to delay their arrival in the Mexican capital to allow more time for acclimatization, but they will land just 24 hours before the match that will decide their place in the last 16.
Ecuador, who have yet to reach their full potential in the tournament, will need to repeat the tactics used to beat Germany if they hope to ensure they qualify as one of the top third-placed teams.
The South American side will rely on the intensity and dynamism that characterize their style of play and are expected to prioritize possession to dictate the tempo on the pitch.
To achieve this goal, they will field a team of outstanding players who are considered by many to be the best generation in the history of Ecuadorian football.
In defense, Piero Hincapier and Willian Pacho – key figures in European football – will look to neutralize the Mexican attack, while the attacking line will be led by the experienced Enner Valencia, the national team’s all-time leading scorer and a well-known face in Mexican football.
In midfield, the two teams will go head-to-head, with the Ecuadorian duo of Pedro Vite and Moises Caicedo – a quiet but powerful threat – facing off against the creativity and efficiency of Mexico’s Eric Lira, Johan Vazquez and Mora, the latter of whom has risen to prominence in recent matches.
The winner of Tuesday’s match will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between England and DR Congo in Atlanta in the round of 16.
The last three matches between the countries have ended in draws, with the last meeting ending as a 1-1 draw in a friendly in October 2025.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN writer Omar Flores Aldana was used in this report.