25/06/2026 03:28 - Deportes
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Mexican National Team wrote a golden page in its history by defeating the Czech Republic 3-0. The match, corresponding to the third round of Group A at the 2026 World Cup, was played at the vibrant Mexico City Stadium and confirmed the team led by coach Javier "Vasco" Aguirre as the standout protagonist of the group stage.
The victory not only secured advancement to the Round of 16, but also marked Mexico's first perfect group stage score in years, finishing with 9 points at the top of the group—a feat that has ignited euphoria among the passionate Mexican fanbase known as "La Afición."
He entered at minute 78' to become the first Mexican player ever to participate in six World Cups, receiving a memorable standing ovation from the home crowd.
The first half was a tightly contested affair where the Czech Republic attempted to impose their rhythm. The clearest chance for the visitors came from a shot by Visinský in the 8th minute that went wide. Mexico, rotating several starters, struggled to find spaces but showed signs of life toward the end of the first half with a bicycle kick from Reyes and a shot from Jorge Sánchez saved by goalkeeper Kovář.
The most emotional moment arrived at minute 78 when Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa entered the match replacing Rangel. The veteran goalkeeper, a hero of previous World Cup campaigns, earned thunderous applause from the entire stadium as he achieved his sixth World Cup appearance—an absolute record for any Mexican footballer.
For context: Memo Ochoa is considered a national icon in Mexico, comparable to what Gianluigi Buffon means to Italy or Iker Casillas to Spain. His consistency across multiple World Cups has made him beloved by Mexican fans worldwide.
With this result, Mexico prepares to play the Round of 16 on home soil, maintaining home advantage and the hopes of millions of fans. Their opponent will be one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage.
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Mexico 🇲🇽 | 9 |
| 2nd | South Korea 🇰🇷 | 4 |
| 3rd | South Africa 🇿🇦 | 3 |
| 4th | Czech Republic 🇨🇿 | 1 |
Key Insight: Mexico finished with a perfect score (9 points) in Group A, surpassing South Africa and South Korea, while relegating the Czech Republic to last place. This marks one of the most dominant group stage performances by a Mexican team in World Cup history.
Source: ESPN
Alfredo S. Quiroga
