World Cup

World Cup 2026: Mexico explodes at Azteca - Will England be the next opponent in the round of 16?

Mexico overcame Ecuador to progress to the round of 16 of the World Cup, showing impressive form at the Azteca Stadium, and could face England next.

Jul 2, 2026, 02:55 AMManuela Fernández6 lượt xem

After Mexico defeated Ecuador to advance to the round of 16 of the World Cup, some celebrating fans began looking towards their next potential opponents. England will face a tough test in their last-32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday night, but if they get through, it won't be easy. Their next opponents will likely be a match against Mexico at the legendary Azteca stadium - an exciting match for many football fans, but a formidable challenge for England fans. Mexico have never made it past the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but their impressive performances at the tournament - four matches, four wins, eight goals and no goals conceded - have left fans dreaming of what could be. "You have star Harry Kane, a Ballon d'Or candidate, leading the team," said one fan. "You have players like Jude Bellingham, who are scary, but with the current momentum, capable of doing the impossible." Based on their performances at this World Cup and their record at Azteca, Mexico going the distance should not be an impossible target. Their record at this stadium is 70 wins in 89 matches, with 17 draws and only 2 losses. They also did not lose in 10 World Cup matches here. Interestingly, the opponents they have faced at Azteca have not always been the strongest sides, but nonetheless it will be a formidable task for whoever faces them in the last 16. "The whole nation is behind them - we've seen the scenes," former Australia and Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said on ITV. "If England go to Mexico, they will be entering another World Cup." In many ways, the atmosphere was set in the build-up to the match as thunder and lightning streaked across the sky on a rainy evening in Mexico, with the weather delaying the match by an hour. This seemed to suit Mexico, who fired up soon after the match started. Julian Quinones opened the scoring with a stunning shot before Raul Jimenez added a second, and things were shaping up before half-time. The final whistle sparked scenes of wild celebration - not just in Mexico but also in cities like Los Angeles, which has a large Mexican community and where fireworks greeted the final whistle. Thousands of Mexican fans gathered at a match in downtown Los Angeles, and many expressed excitement and faith in the team. "This was the best performance we've seen from the Mexican team in a long time. It's been a great year to be Mexican and a great year to watch the World Cup," one fan told the BBC World Service. "The fact that they are even top of the table is not in our minds. This is happening right now." Another supporter said: "You've seen the players' energy grow with each match. There are players who were previously criticized for making mistakes but are now playing great. It's great to see this team and players like them connecting with each other." It's not just the stadium that England or DR Congo need to be careful of, but also Mexico's players. They are familiar with Wolves striker Jimenez, but Quinones has also shined in this tournament. The 29-year-old striker, currently playing for Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, scored the opening goal against Ecuador with a powerful shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance, taking his tally at this World Cup to three goals in four matches. Mexico also has one of the most exciting young talents at this tournament, Gilberto Mora, who at 17 years and 259 days, became the second youngest player in history to start a World Cup knockout match, behind only Pele in 1958 (17 years, 239 days). Meanwhile, no one could break down a defense that has faced just six shots on target in four matches. "There's discipline, skill, tenacity - there's a lot we can say about Mexico," former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "When a home team plays like that, it's difficult to stop them. They will be very difficult to defend against in the round of 16. It will be a formidable task. It was one of the best performances I've seen from a Mexican team in a while." Mexican fans will feel that this year could be the year they lift the World Cup trophy for the first time, especially after something they felt had been cursed for a long time was broken. It's 'quinto partido' - Spanish for fifth match. Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986 and reached the quarter-finals on both occasions, but in each subsequent tournament until 2018, they were beaten in the fourth match. In 2022, they cannot pass the group stage. They have now achieved this long-awaited fifth match of the World Cup - if they win this match, their fans will really start to believe that this team can become champions of the tournament.