By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, AP Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored goals in a nine-minute span in the first half and Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to break a 40-year drought without a win in the knockout stage and progressed to the World Cup round of 16.
Read more Mexico ends 40-year knockout drought, beats Ecuador to reach Round of 16
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute while Jiménez added a strike in the 31st minute for the Mexicans, who had not won a knockout-stage match since defeating Bulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986.
Mexico subsequently lost seven consecutive times at that same stage from 1994 to 2018.
In Qatar 2022, they were eliminated in the group stage for the first time since Argentina in 1978.
It was Quiñones third goal of the tournament and he is now El Tri’s second-best scorer in World Cup history behind Luis “Matador” Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who scored four each.
Jiménez scored his second goal of the tournament and has 47 with the national team to break a tie with Jared Borgetti. He is five away from tying “Chicharito” Hernández as the all-time leading scorer for Mexico.
Mexico will play another home match Sunday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo.
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Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official losses at the venue — the last being a World Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.
With the win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss against Paraguay in November.
Mexico also became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a CONMEBOL side in a World Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings.
Ecuador was trying to advance to the round of 16 for the second time in their history and the first since Germany 2006.
The match started one hour after the original scheduled time due to a thunderstorm.
It was the second match of the tournament affected by weather. A storm during the France-Iraq match at Philadelphia on June 22 caused a 2-hour, 11-minute suspension at the end of the first half.
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Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, center, scores his side’s second goal past Ecuador’s Pedro Vite, second from left, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez (9) celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Ecuador’s Nilson Angulo (20) heads the ball over Mexico’s Jorge Sanchez (2) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Mexico’s Luis Romo (7), left, fights for the ball with Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata (19) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) scores their first goal against Ecuador’s Willian Pacho (6) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, left, celebrates with Julian Quinones after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexico players celebrates after Julian Quinones scored his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia (13) battles for a header with Mexico’s Johan Vasquez (5) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Mexico’s Luis Romo, right, kicks the ball past Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Fans react before the start of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A fan reacts before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Fans react before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Artists perform before the start of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A Mexican fan reacts ahead of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Mexican fans react ahead of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Mexico fans in Houston find their seats before watching a live broadcast of a World Cup soccer round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Players and referees enter the field before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Ecuador players pose before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico players pose before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico fans cheer at Shell Energy Stadium, home of the MLS soccer club Houston Dynamo, as they watch a live broadcast in Houston, of a World Cup soccer round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A fan wears a poncho as it rains ahead of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Fans wear ponchos as it rains ahead of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
A Mexican fan waits in the rain for the start of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Mexico fan Ray Mysterio poses in Houston before a live broadcast of a World Cup soccer round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Mexico fans in Houston watch ballet folkloric dancers before a live broadcast of a World Cup soccer round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)