Mexico, England Advance to Round of 16 as Knockout Drama Unfolds

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage delivered drama, history and high-quality football as Mexico and England secured their places in the Round of 16 with contrasting victories over Ecuador and DR Congo . While the co-hosts produced a composed display to register a historic win, England were forced to dig deep and stage a late comeback to avoid a stunning upset.

For Mexico, the 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the iconic Estadio Azteca was more than just progression to the next round. It ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory , with El Tri's last success in the tournament's elimination rounds dating back to 1986. Backed by more than 80,000 passionate supporters , Mexico dominated key phases of the contest and justified their growing reputation as one of the tournament's most disciplined teams.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Julián Quiñones latched onto a precise pass from Roberto Alvarado and fired home to ignite celebrations across the stadium. Mexico tightened their grip on the match nine minutes later as Quiñones turned provider, setting up veteran striker Raúl Jiménez , who calmly slotted home his 47th international goal . The second strike proved a crucial turning point, allowing the hosts to control the tempo and frustrate Ecuador's attempts to mount a comeback.

Another key moment arrived just before halftime when goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced an important save to deny Ecuador a lifeline. The South Americans struggled to create clear-cut opportunities thereafter, and their frustrations were evident when defender Piero Hincapié received a late red card. The victory continued Mexico's impressive defensive run and further strengthened belief that the hosts could make a deep tournament push.

England's clash with DR Congo unfolded very differently. The African side stunned the Three Lions when Brian Cipenga scored in the seventh minute, putting England under immediate pressure. DR Congo nearly doubled their lead before halftime through Yoane Wissa , whose effort struck the post in what proved to be one of the match's defining moments.

With England struggling for inspiration, manager Thomas Tuchel turned to his bench, introducing Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze . The substitutions transformed the game. Gordon provided the cross for Harry Kane's equalizer in the 75th minute before the England captain struck again in the 86th minute with a clinical finish to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.

Despite the defeat, DR Congo earned widespread praise for pushing one of the tournament favorites to the brink. Their spirited campaign has been among the success stories of the expanded 48-team World Cup.

The results now set up a blockbuster Round of 16 showdown between Mexico and England . Mexico enter the contest with momentum, home support and defensive solidity, while England will rely on Kane's match-winning form as both nations chase a place in the quarterfinals.