Mexico v Ecuador: World Cup 2026 last 32 – live

Key events What about Ecuador ? As Aaron Timms writes, they are dark horses predicated on strength, with an eye-catching coach. double quotation mark On the field, through victory and defeat, Ecuador have been exactly what everyone imagined they would be before the tournament began: a team with an elite defensive and midfield spine that lacks any real punch up front. But on the sidelines and in the press conferences, they have absolutely dominated, and that’s all down to the gaucho Fabio they have leading their team. With his streaks of dirty blond hair, chinstrap of stubble, and Boeing 747 nose, Sebastián Beccacece looks like the kind of manager who should do well at the World Cup, regardless of results on the pitch. He’s 45 years old, leading a country other than his native Argentina, and arrives at this tournament boasting a fairly modest coaching record, having worked as an assistant under Jorge Sampaoli with Chile and managed the Spanish club side Elche to no great success. More on the fascinating curse of the fifth game. Mexico reached the quarterfinals on home soil in 1986, but they were banned from Italia 90 as a consequence of fielding over-age players at the 1988 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament, in what became known as the Cachirules scandal. Because four players were found to have falsified their ages, the fourth match is now cursed, meaning the fifth game never eventuates. …