01/07/2026 04:24 - Deportes
The knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup continues with matches full of excitement, surprises, and moments that will remain in history. On July 1st, Ecuador and Mexico face each other at the iconic Estadio Azteca seeking a place in the Round of 16.
The Ecuadorian national team arrived in Mexico City after a complicated journey. The flight from Columbus, Ohio suffered a delay of over 3 hours, extending the total trip to 9 hours.
The Ecuadorian delegation arrived at the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe at 20:20 instead of the scheduled 17:00. To complicate matters, Mexican fans staged a serenade with horns and fireworks outside the hotel, in a clear harassment tactic known in Latin America as 'barras bravas' intimidation.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation filed a formal complaint with the tournament organization regarding these incidents. However, head coach Sebastián Beccacece stated he would not use these events as excuses.
The winner of the Ecuador vs Mexico match will face the victor of England vs Chile in the Round of 16, in what promises to be a thrilling clash between different footballing philosophies.
England arrives as favorites after a solid group stage, while Chile will look to prove they remain competitive despite the passing years of their 'golden generation' that won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016.
This encounter represents the classic duel between European tactical discipline and South American flair, with everything to be decided in a single-elimination match.
In one of the tournament's biggest surprises, Paraguay eliminated Germany by 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. The match was played on June 29, 2026 in Boston.
Orlando Gill, goalkeeper from Argentine club San Lorenzo, became a hero by saving two penalties. Defender José Canale (from Lanús, another Argentine club) converted the decisive penalty that sealed the historic qualification.
Head coach Gustavo Alfaro fulfilled his promise to achieve a 'utopia' for Paraguayan football. Paraguay will face France in the Round of 16.
France demonstrated their power with a 3-0 victory over Sweden on June 30, 2026 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Kylian Mbappé scored a brace (bringing him to 6 goals in the tournament and 18 in World Cups overall), matching Lionel Messi's tally in this edition. Barcola scored the third goal.
Michael Olise was instrumental with his assists. Head coach Didier Deschamps masterfully directed a team that arrived with a perfect record in the group stage (3 victories, 10 goals scored, 2 conceded).
| Match | Result | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguay vs Germany | 4-3 (penalties) | June 29, 2026 | Boston |
| Brazil vs Japan | 2-1 | June 29, 2026 | Houston |
| Morocco vs Netherlands | 3-2 (penalties) | June 29, 2026 | - |
| France vs Sweden | 3-0 | June 30, 2026 | New Jersey |
Argentina, with Lionel Messi accumulating 6 goals in the tournament, will face Cape Verde on July 3, 2026 at 19:00 (Argentina time, UTC-3) in Miami for the Round of 16.
The Argentine captain recently participated in the launch of the new Spider-Man film with a surprise appearance, demonstrating his acting skills with a line that went viral: "I heard you were looking for me".
Brazil, who defeated Japan 2-1 with goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli, will play the Round of 16 on July 4, 2026 in Houston against the winner of Ivory Coast vs Norway.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
