Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory as Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored in a 2-0 win over Ecuador, sending the co-hosts into the last 16 amid emotional scenes at the Azteca Stadium.
Julian Quinones gave hosts Mexico a dream start as he scored in the ninth minute in the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match against South Africa.
Some reporters later returned to the conference room, although local press strongly condemned the player's actions, adding to criticism of the team's poor form this season, which has left them sitting 10th in the Liga MX table.
Mexico will face the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final after a second-half strike by Raul Jimenez earned the defending champions a 1-0 win over Honduras at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Raul Jimenez scored a brace, including a stoppage-time penalty, to give Mexico a 2-1 win over Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League final in Inglewood, California
Saudi Arabia, who were invited to play in the tournament by the North American soccer governing body and reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group D, did well to contain heavy favourites Mexico's attack in the first half.
Lionel Messi won his 100th Argentina cap when he started the Copa America Group B match against Jamaica on Saturday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Thiago Silva and Roberto Firmino scored either side of halftime to fire Brazil to a 2-1 win over Venezuela at the Copa America.
England and Belgium, already qualified from World Cup Group G, meet on Thursday in what Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini says could be a "strange match". Depending on the outcome of other games, it may not be an advantage to finish top of the group, but both sides insist they won't take such calculations into account.
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will kick-off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Here is a list of the 26-man squads playing in the quadrennial global football extravaganza.
