Mexico will seek to end their 40-year wait to get to the fifth game of a World Cup when they face Ecuador in the last 32.
The co-hosts are enjoying an outstanding tournament, having cruised through their group with a 100 per cent record, winning all three games without conceding a goal.
Their performances to this point will have significantly raised hopes that this Mexico vintage will be the team to get through a knockout game for the first time in 40 years.
Not since 1986, when Mexico hosted the tournament for the second time, have El Tri tasted victory in a knockout tie.
On that occasion, Mexico beat Bulgaria in the last 16, but they have not gone beyond that stage since, suffering seven consecutive last-16 exits before going out in the group stage in 2022.
With an extra round added to the knockout stage following the expansion to 48 teams, Mexico will still have significant work to do to get beyond the last 16 even if they beat Ecuador, but long-awaited success in the fourth game of the finals would still be viewed as cause for national celebration.
The same goes for Ecuador, though their history in the knockout rounds of the World Cup is far less extensive.
Indeed, the game at Estadio Azteca will mark only the second knockout tie in Ecuador’s history, their only previous experience having come in 2006.
On that occasion, Ecuador lost 1-0 to England as David Beckham settled the tie with a free-kick, and the Three Lions may lie in wait for a repeat of that last-16 clash should Sebastian Beccacece’s men prevail. England face DR Congo in the round of 32 on Wednesday.
Ecuador enduring a rollercoaster group stage, as they suffered a late defeat to Ivory Coast in their tournament opener before being held to a goalless draw by tournament debutants Curacao.
That set the stage for a dramatic Group E finale with Germany, with Ecuador coming from behind to win 2-1 in New Jersey and sparked jubilant scenes as they progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
The victory over Germany is likely to boosted confidence in Ecuador’s ability to pull off an upset against Mexico, with Beccacece believing they should fear nobody.
“Our goal was to empower this group to not feel less than anyone or better than anyone but to feel like they can compete with anyone,” he said after the win over Germany.
“We’re working toward that, but there’s no need to be overconfident. I like the team to believe in themselves, but even with belief, there has to be humility, transparency and integrity.”
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Team news for Mexico v Ecuador
Both sides head into the game free of injury worries, with Raul Jimenez likely to return to lead the line for Mexico after being rested for the win over Czechia.
Predicted line-ups for Mexico v Ecuador
Mexico: Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Lira, Romo, Gutierrez; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones
Ecuador: Galindez; Franco, Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie; Yeboah, Caicedo, Vite, Angulo; Plata, Valencia
Where to watch Mexico v Ecuador: TV and online streams
Mexico v Ecuador kicks off at 2:00am UK time on Wednesday. It will be broadcast on ITV1 and STV. The game will also be available to stream via ITVX and the STV Player.
Stats for Mexico v Ecuador
- Mexico and Ecuador have met 28 times previously.
- Mexico have won 16 of those games, with Ecuador prevailing in four and eight games ending in draws.
- Each of the last three games between the two sides have ended in draws.
- Mexico won their only previous World Cup meeting with Ecuador, a 2-1 victory in the group stage in 2002.
- However, Mexico are winless in all of their other 13 meetings with South American opposition at the World Cup, drawing two and losing 11.
- Mexico have a 100 per cent record after the group stage. They previously went unbeaten at a World Cup when hosting in 1986, when they went out in the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout against Germany. Mexico have not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since.
- Having scored twice in the group stage, Julián Quiñones needs just two more goals to tie the record for the most by a Mexico player in World Cup history.
- This will be just the second knockout game in Ecuador’s World Cup history. Their only previous knockout tie ended in a 1-0 defeat to England in the last 16 in 2006.
- Enner Valencia will equal the record for most World Cup finals appearances. Should he feature against Mexico, it would mark his eighth World Cup game.
- Valencia is Ecuador’s record World Cup goalscorer with six, but has yet to find the net at this tournament.
Prediction for Mexico v Ecuador
Ecuador should provide a stern test for the co-hosts, but the reality is they simply do not score enough goals. As such, Mexico’s joyous party should continue at the Azteca.
Prediction: Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
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