Sebastián Beccacece has stepped down as coach of Ecuador following World Cup elimination. The 45-year-old Argentine confirmed it after Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to host Mexico. “My contract has to end with the end of the World Cup.

Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie becomes the second player at this tournament to be shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent in stoppage time of their 2-0 defeat against Mexico.

The 40-year wait is over. Mexicans had learned to live with defeats in the knockout stages of the World Cup. On seven occasions, El Tri fans were left heartbroken at this stage. Not anymore. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored within a nine-minute span in the first half and Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to break a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progress to the round of 16.

After Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in their Round of 32 fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026, nearly a million people took to the streets in the capital city to celebrate the country’s first knockout stage win in 40 years.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice, and Bradley Barcola added a third as France beat Sweden 3–0, reaching the World Cup last 16 with Mexico, as El Tri defeated Ecuador 2-0. Belgium takes on Senegal on Wednesday night in a high-stakes knockout clash in Seattle.