World Cup: Mexico reach Round of 16 as all teams from Germany’s group exit

Co-hosts Mexico maintained their perfect record with a comfortable win over Ecuador.

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First-half strikes from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, who also scored the goals in the opening win over South Africa, sent Mexico into the Round of 16 at Ecuador’s expense. 

17-year-old Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora became the first player to start a knockout stage game in the competition since Pele in 1958. 

The result means all teams from Germany’s group are out with the first hurdle of the knockout stages. The four-time champions were stunned by Paraguay on penalties, while Côte d'Ivoire lost to Norway after Erling Haaland’s late winner. Similarly, all the teams from Group F are now out after defeats to the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden. 

Ecuador ended their campaign without scoring in three of their four games, with the 2-1 win over Germany being the exception. Meanwhile, Mexico are the only team yet to concede a goal.

Former Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié was sent off in injury-time for covering his mouth while talking to an opposing player. Mexico will continue to enjoy home support when they face the winner of the England-DR Congo match in the Round of 16.