Mexico secured a spot in the World Cup round of 16 by defeating Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night at the Azteca Stadium, ending a 40-year drought in the tournament's knockout stages.
Julián Quiñones opened the scoring for El Tri in the 22nd minute.
Striker Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead just nine minutes later, netting a goal in the 31st minute to seal the victory.
The victory marks the first time Mexico has won a World Cup knockout fixture since hosting the tournament in 1986, when they defeated Bulgaria.
The team had previously suffered seven consecutive losses at this stage between 1994 and 2018, followed by a group-stage exit in 2022.
Emotional Victory for Coach and Players
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre, who played as a midfielder during the 1986 tournament, expressed the emotional weight of the victory for the squad and the nation.
"It means a lot to me because I am one of those who could not progress in the knockout stage," said Aguirre.
"We are in the round of 16 and it is happening a great connection with the fans. We are like a family.
It is spectacular."
Aguirre returned to manage the national team in August 2024, having previously served as an assistant coach in 1994 and head coach during the 2002 and 2010 campaigns.
"We will be on high alert from here until Sunday.
We will try to have the players recover from this and we will see if we are able to win again," Aguirre said.
The opening goal by Quiñones marked his third score of the competition, making him the tournament spark for Mexico.
The 29-year-old forward moved from Colombia at age 17 and became a naturalized Mexican citizen in 2023.
"I am just happy with the result, that is all that matters now," said Quiñones.
Quiñones is currently playing in his first career World Cup with the Mexican national team.
"Life is about struggle and fight until you get what you want," he said, "and I am taking full advantage of the opportunity that I got."
The second goal by Jiménez brought his international tally to 47 goals, breaking a historical tie with Jared Borgetti.
Jiménez is now five goals away from matching Javier "Chicharito" Hernández as the all-time leading goalscorer for the national team.
The result also establishes Mexico as the first CONCACAF nation to eliminate a CONMEBOL team during a World Cup knockout match, breaking a five-game winning streak held by South American teams.
Additionally, the victory extends Mexico's unbeaten streak to 12 games across all competitions.
A severe thunderstorm delayed the kickoff at Azteca Stadium by one hour, marking the second weather delay of the tournament.
Mexico will next play a home match on Sunday against the winner of the fixture between England and Congo.
