Mexico City — Mexico’s national soccer team has learned its opponent for the World Cup knockout stage: Ecuador, a side that stunned Germany to reach the round of 16.
Ecuador qualified as one of the best third-place teams after a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast, a scoreless draw with Curacao, and a 2-1 victory over Germany that kept its tournament hopes alive.
The two teams last met on October 14 in Guadalajara, playing to a 1-1 friendly draw. Ecuador fielded a near-full-strength lineup featuring Enner Valencia and William Pacho, while Mexico used a squad close to its current roster. Mexico now boasts new attacking options in Roberto Alvarado and Raul Jimenez, along with emerging midfielders Gilberto Mora, Brian Gutierrez, and Alvaro Fidalgo.
However, Mexico carries a painful recent memory against Ecuador. In the Copa America group stage under then-coach Jaime Lozano, Mexico needed a win to advance but settled for a 0-0 draw, leading to elimination and Lozano’s departure.
Now led by Javier Aguirre, Mexico aims for a different outcome. Aguirre previously faced Ecuador in a World Cup, winning 2-1 in 2002 with goals from Jared Borgetti and Gerardo Torrado.
The match will take place on Tuesday, June 30 at Estadio Azteca. A victory would set up a quarterfinal at the same venue on July 5. Mexico has never lost a World Cup match at that stadium.
Mexico last reached the quarterfinals in 1986, when it beat Bulgaria and advanced through a group stage that included wins over Belgium and Iraq and a draw with Paraguay. That run ended in a penalty shootout loss to Germany. The current squad hopes to match or surpass that achievement.
