Times of San Diego will offer match previews of U.S. and Mexico games during the World Cup. For more, see our 2026 World Cup Guide to local watch parties.
Match: Mexico vs. Ecuador
When: 6 p.m., Tuesday
How to watch: Fox5 San Diego, Telemundo and FOX One.
Mexico’s opponent for the round of 32 knockout game will be the dark horse that many experts predicted to make a deep run, Ecuador. Speculation at first focused on Scotland to face El Tri, but due to a combination of results in the last two days of the group stage, it will instead be the side known as La Tri facing Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Ecuador is playing with house money – and an added sense of inspiration.
Mexico and Ecuador met in the 2002 World Cup with El Tri coming out victorious thanks to goals by Jared Borgetti and Gerardo Torrado.
Mexico
Strengths: Mexico comes into the match undefeated, without having conceded a single goal, making it the only team to do so in the tournament besides Spain. El Tri had already clinched the top seed in Group A before a dominating 3-0 performance over Czechia at Azteca Stadium. Mexico also saw the return of defender César Montes after he missed the game against South Korea due to a red card in the final minutes versus South Africa.
Keep an eye on: Montes and the rest of the backline, which will need to come up big considering Ecuador has a very talented set of forwards who can create scoring opportunities out of thin air.
Ecuador
Strengths: La Tri, led by head coach Sebastián Beccacece, finished in third place of the Group E standings thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over perennial title contender Germany in its final group stage match. Ecuador needed a win to sneak in to the knockout round and managed to get the result despite giving up a controversial goal in the second minute. They know they can’t rely on the referee or VAR to intervene when needed. That knowledge, combined with their comeback, will undoubtedly feed the team’s “us against the world” mentality.
Keep an eye on: Despite Ecuador only scoring two goals so far, both against Germany, their defense and goalkeeper, Hernán Galíndez, have come up big, only giving up two goals over the first three games. Most impressive for La Tri is its midfield, which has looked stellar at times, led by Nilson Angulo.
