Mexico Beats Ecuador 2-0, Extending Azteca World Cup Run to 10 Before England Tie

Q: With a perfect defense but a knockout stage curse, which legacy will define Mexico's team tomorrow?

Mexico are poised to be defined more by a breakthrough than by an old curse. The evidence points that way. Javier Aguirre’s side have already ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win by beating Ecuador 2-0, and they arrive against England with four straight victories and four clean sheets. They are only the fourth team in World Cup history to win their first four matches without conceding, and they could become just the second to keep five consecutive clean sheets. That defensive record is not isolated form; it is tied to a historic home advantage. Mexico are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Estadio Azteca, the best such run by any nation at a single stadium. Across all competitive matches there since 1966, they have lost only twice in 89 games. The altitude of 7,220 feet, combined with a hostile crowd, gives Mexico a measurable edge, especially against an England team with limited acclimatization time. Thomas Tuchel has openly called that a major disadvantage. So the defining legacy tomorrow is likely to be whether Mexico can turn defensive perfection and Azteca history into a true change of identity. If they beat England, the story becomes clear: this is the Mexico team that finally moved beyond decades of Round-of-16 frustration. If they fall short, the old narrative will survive. But based on form, venue and momentum, Mexico enter the match with a real chance to make the breakthrough their lasting legacy.

3 articles · Updated · Transfermarkt · Jul 5

Mexico reached the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Ecuador, stretching their World Cup unbeaten streak at Estadio Azteca to 10 matches.
The co-hosts have won all four games at the 2026 tournament without conceding, making them the only team to pair a 100% record with a clean sheet in every match so far.
That Azteca run spans three World Cups—1970, 1986 and 2026—and stands at six wins and four draws, the best unbeaten record by any nation at a single World Cup stadium.
Germany's six-match unbeaten run at San Siro and England's six at Wembley are the closest comparisons as Mexico prepare to face England at the same venue on Monday.