Mexico’s Alvaro Fidalgo celebrates scoring his facet’s third aim towards Czechia throughout a World Cup Group A match in Mexico Metropolis, on June 24, 2026
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Mexico continued their good begin to the World Cup with a 3-0 romp towards a hapless Czech Republic on Wednesday, ending their group-stage marketing campaign with a flourish and killing off their tame opponents’ hopes of constructing the knockouts.
The co-hosts had already booked their spot within the final 32 as Group A winners however confirmed no mercy at the Azteca stadium to finish a 3rd straight victory that left the sorry Czechs backside of the standings and out of the match.
The sport seemed to be drifting in direction of a stalemate earlier than Mexico exploded within the second half, with Mateo Chavez opening the scoring earlier than Julian Quinones grabbed his second of the match and substitute Alvaro Fidalgo dealt the ultimate blow.
Mexico’s reward for a faultless opening stage can be a knockout conflict with a third-placed facet from Group C, E, F, H or I with the match once more in entrance of their followers on the Azteca, the place they’re unbeaten in 9 World Cup matches, on Tuesday.
New hope
Mexico’s very good begin to the match has kindled the fires of hope of their fervent supporters that this group might be the one to lastly put to mattress the so-called curse that has seen them fail to achieve the quarter-finals since 1986.
The omens instantly look auspiciously beneficial – unbeaten in 11 video games having sauntered by way of the group stage at a World Cup again on house soil, the hope is that this Mexico facet may put years of turmoil and under-performance behind them.
The numbers are additionally beginning to stack up.
This was their largest World Cup win since a 4-0 victory over El Salvador in 1970, whereas on the different finish their rock-solid defence ensured they grew to become the primary group with three clear sheets within the group stage since Uruguay in 2018.
This obvious new daybreak is completely symbolised by 17-year-old midfield prodigy Gilberto Mora, who’s the youngest participant to begin within the match since 2002, and produced an excellent show along with his each contact loudly appreciated by the group.
“To be sincere, I believed I may obtain it, however not this quickly,” he stated when requested if he imagined reaching this stage so shortly. “Now that I am right here, I am simply making an attempt to take pleasure in it, take it day by day and provides my finest every time I am on the pitch.”
Sparked into life
With their destiny using on the result, the Czechs had been predictably extra keen within the opening exchanges, with Denis Visinsky snatching at an early effort when area opened up in entrance of him.
It took 35 minutes for Mexico to conjure a shot and once they did it was a moderately inconceivable overhead kick from centre again Israel Reyes that drifted harmlessly extensive.
The sport had all of the hallmarks of a stalemate earlier than Mexico sparked into life and located the breakthrough to convey the Azteca to its ft after 55 minutes.
Luis Romo emerged with the ball in midfield and slipped a go by way of to full again Chavez who skipped previous one problem and bore down on aim earlier than calmly opening his physique as much as sidefoot his end previous goalkeeper Matej Kovar. The second aim six minutes later had Mora’s fingerprints throughout it because the teenager dribbled deep into Czech territory earlier than taking part in a pleasant ball by way of to Jorge Sanchez.
He bundled his tried end over the keeper and after a short scramble Quinones adopted as much as poke the ball house.
Whereas the group wanted little encouragement to show up the decibels, in all probability the loudest cheer of the evening was reserved for a late substitute look from 40-year-old keeper Guillermo Ochoa incomes his 154th cap at his sixth World Cup.
There was time for a ultimate flourish, nonetheless, as Mexico’s third aim arrived deep in stoppage time when Fidalgo blasted the ball into the highest nook from 18 metres to finish a convincing win and one other spectacular show by the co-hosts.
Revealed – June 25, 2026 10:21 am IST
