Mexico City hosts World Cup knockout win as France and Norway also advance

By Mason Reed — 1 July 2026 — 4 min read

Mexico Secures Knockout Stage Victory

Mexico advanced to the Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. This marks Mexico’s first win in a World Cup knockout game since 1986. The team maintained a strong defensive performance, holding their opponents scoreless for the fourth consecutive match, a record for Mexico in a single World Cup tournament.

The atmosphere at the Azteca Stadium was described as passionate, with the home crowd’s fervor increasing throughout the tournament. The noise and energy within the stadium appeared to overwhelm Ecuador in the initial stages of the match. Julián Quiñones scored the opening goal for Mexico, followed by a second goal from Raúl Jiménez, securing the 2-0 lead.

Ecuador made two defensive changes at halftime in an attempt to address breakdowns that led to Mexico’s goals. Despite these adjustments, Mexico continued to control the game, frustrating Ecuador’s offensive attempts. Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié was shown a red card in stoppage time due to a new rule regarding players covering their mouths during confrontations.

Mexico’s next challenge in the Round of 16 will be against the winner of the match between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The strong home support at the Azteca Stadium has been a significant factor in Mexico’s performance, with all three host nations, including Canada and the United States, benefiting from local enthusiasm.

France’s Potent Attack Shines

France also secured an emphatic victory, defeating Sweden 3-0. Kylian Mbappé scored two goals, bringing his tournament total to six and placing him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Mbappé is now just one goal shy of his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

The French attack has been particularly effective in this tournament, a contrast to their performance at the European Championship two years prior. While Mbappé has garnered headlines, the entire forward line has been thriving. Ousmane Dembélé has contributed four goals, including a hat-trick against Norway, and Bradley Barcola scored his second goal of the tournament. Michael Olise, though yet to score, has been praised for his creative play and vision, with former France forward Thierry Henry calling him a “freak” for his exceptional ability to spot a pass.

The cohesion among France’s talented attackers has been notable, with individuals combining effectively as a collective. This strong offensive display sets them up for their upcoming match against Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Haaland Leads Norway to Historic Win

In another significant result, Norway achieved their first-ever victory in the World Cup knockout stage, beating Ivory Coast 2-1. Erling Haaland scored the late winning goal, demonstrating his prolific goalscoring instincts. This goal was Haaland’s 60th international goal in his 53rd appearance for Norway.

Haaland’s remarkable scoring record continues to draw comparisons to other football legends. At 25 years old, he reached 60 international goals in fewer appearances and at a younger age than Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Mbappé did for their respective national teams. In the Premier League, Haaland has scored 112 goals in 132 matches for Manchester City, positioning him to potentially challenge Alan Shearer‘s record of 260 goals.

Despite not always being involved in general play, Haaland’s ability to find space in the penalty area and capitalize on opportunities defines his impact. Norway will face Brazil in the Round of 16. Historically, Norway has never lost to the five-time World Cup winners, holding a record of two wins and two draws against them.

The United States, another host nation, will aim for a clean sweep for the hosts when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina this evening in Santa Clara. The knockout stage has proven to be challenging, and the U.S. team faces high expectations in their match.

The Azteca Stadium, which has a rich World Cup heritage, having hosted finals in 1970 and 1986, will host Mexico’s final last-16 tie. The decision by FIFA to hold all games from the quarter-finals onwards in the U.S. has been noted, with revenue potential cited as a factor. However, the atmosphere generated by the Mexican supporters has been a highlight of the tournament, with the stadium expected to be vibrant for Sunday’s match.

The tournament, spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has offered variety and enriched the experience for attendees. Despite aggressive ticket pricing, attendance records have been broken, and the atmosphere in all 16 host cities has been well-received. The U.S. team’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has emphasized the importance of each game, comparing their upcoming match to a “World Cup final” as they prepare to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Source: nytimes.com

Mason Reed

Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.