Mexico booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Ecuador 2-0 in a dramatic last-32 encounter that was delayed for more than an hour due to severe thunderstorms.
Lightning strikes around the stadium forced officials to suspend proceedings before kick-off, with thousands of supporters seeking shelter as heavy rain swept across the venue.
Once play resumed, Mexico wasted little time asserting their dominance. Goals from Julián Quiñones and veteran striker Raúl Jiménez sealed a comfortable victory and set up the possibility of a blockbuster clash against England in the last 16.
Should Thomas Tuchel’s side overcome DR Congo, they will face Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
VAR Drama as Piero Hincapié Sent Off
The match ended in controversy after Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié was shown a straight red card following a VAR review.
The Arsenal centre-back confronted a Mexico player while covering his mouth during a heated exchange. Match officials reviewed the incident before dismissing Hincapié, leaving Ecuador to finish the contest with ten men.
The dismissal mirrored the earlier sending-off of Miguel Almirón during the knockout stages, highlighting FIFA’s strict stance on player conduct throughout the tournament.
Pierluigi Collina Explains Germany VAR Decision
Away from Mexico’s victory, FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Pierluigi Collina addressed one of the tournament’s biggest talking points.
Collina explained the controversial VAR decision that ruled out Germany’s late winner against Paraguay in their Round of 32 tie.
The Germans eventually suffered a shock penalty shootout defeat, with Paraguay progressing after one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Thomas Tuchel Confirms England Injury Update
Ahead of England’s knockout clash with DR Congo, manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed defenders Jarrell Quansah and Reece James will both miss the match through injury.
However, the England boss delivered a positive update on Bukayo Saka, revealing the Arsenal winger is fit enough to start if selected.
With several tournament favourites already eliminated, Tuchel has urged his squad to remain fully focused against a dangerous DR Congo side as England look to avoid becoming another major casualty.
France Send World Cup Warning
Elsewhere, France underlined their credentials as serious World Cup contenders with an impressive 3-0 victory over Sweden.
Captain Kylian Mbappé scored twice to draw level with Lionel Messi on the tournament’s all-time World Cup goalscoring list, while Bradley Barcola also found the net.
The French squad dedicated the victory to manager Didier Deschamps, who recently returned to the tournament after travelling home following the death of his mother.
Erling Haaland Fires Norway Through
Norway also secured their place in the Round of 16 thanks to a dramatic late winner from Erling Haaland against the Ivory Coast in Dallas.
Haaland’s decisive strike capped another thrilling day of World Cup action, following the surprise eliminations of both Germany and the Netherlands, who were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay and Morocco respectively.
With the knockout stages producing major shocks and high drama, the race to become world champions is becoming increasingly unpredictable.