Mexico City World Cup match experiences weather delay, Mexico advances to Round of 16

By Mason Reed — 1 July 2026 — 3 min read

A World Cup match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City on Tuesday faced a delay due to lightning strikes in the area. The round of 32 game, originally scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at the Estadio Azteca, was pushed back by about an hour. Officials needed to ensure the lightning had cleared for a determined period before the match could begin safely.

This delay echoes an earlier incident in the tournament when the France–Iraq game in Philadelphia experienced a two-hour halt during halftime due to lightning and heavy rain. During the delay in Mexico City, fans remained in their seats.

FIFA stated it was adhering to safety protocols established by local authorities, confirming the match would commence once conditions were deemed safe. The start time, 7 p.m. local in Mexico City, was adjusted, with the game beginning approximately an hour after its initial schedule.

Mexico secures victory and advances

Despite the weather interruption, Mexico secured a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, advancing to the Round of 16. Both of Mexico’s goals were scored in the first 45 minutes of the match. This marks a significant achievement for Mexico, as the country won a knockout-round game for the first time in 40 years.

The first goal came in the 22nd minute from Julián Quiñones, who placed a shot into the top left corner. Less than ten minutes later, Raul Jiménez scored Mexico’s second goal. Jiménez capitalized on an Ecuador turnover, passing the ball to Quiñones, who then returned it to Jiménez in the penalty area for the finish.

Jiménez’s goal made him the first player in his 30s to score a knockout-round goal for Mexico. Quiñones’ goal was his third of the tournament, contributing to his strong performance in the World Cup. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised Quiñones, noting his understanding of the game and willingness to sacrifice for the team, mentioning he came off with calf tightness after extensive running.

Key performances and upcoming fixture

Mexico immediately applied pressure on Ecuador from the start of the match, with Ecuador struggling to move the ball out of its own half. Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora was a standout player in the opening minutes. Mora, at 17 years and 259 days old, became the youngest player to start a knockout-round game at the World Cup since Pelé in the 1958 World Cup.

Ecuador, which had allowed only five goals across 18 World Cup qualifying games in South America, conceded two goals in the first half. John Yeboah created two scoring opportunities for Ecuador in the first half, but the team could not mount a comeback in the second half. Towards the end of the game, Ecuador’s defender Piero Hincapié received an automatic red card.

The victory sends Mexico to the Round of 16, where they are scheduled to face England at Estadio Azteca on July 5, unless DR Congo achieves an upset on Wednesday. Mexico has played all four of its games on home soil so far, joining France as the only teams to win all four of their games in the tournament.

Source: eu.usatoday.com

Mason Reed

Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.