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This was not just a victory. It was a festival.
How else could you describe the incredible scenes we saw tonight in Mexico City? A vibrant, feel-good, extremely joyous celebration was on display as Mexican fans, already comfortable with the fact that their national team had already topped Group A and reached the Round of 16, watched El Tri win 3-0 over the Czech Republic.
And let me tell you something, this Mexican side is not here just to compete. It will make history.
Here are my takeaways:
1. The power of the home crowd is to speak volume
The noise at the mythical Mexico City venue was turned up, the energy amped up to the max. It has definitely made the most of playing at home and delivering fully.
Javier Aguirre made five changes from the team that beat South Korea, which included teenager Gilberto Mora. Later in the game, Guillermo Ochoa even entered the game to the joy of the stadium, creating even more celebrations for the Mexican faithful.
Mexico played with more freedom and a sense that there was no pressure to get a result.
The first goal came thanks to 22-year-old full-back Mateo Chávez, who scored his first goal at the World Cup thanks to his first start. It was a nice finish with great aggression and composure in the 54th minute from the full-back. Six minutes later, the home side doubled their lead thanks to the team’s most dangerous player in the tournament so far: Julián Quiñones. Then the party continued as Ochoa gave a loud reception.
“Olé!” could be heard every time the team touched the ball until the end of the match.
And then in stoppage time, Alvaro Fidalgo signed it and delivered, finishing the party in full with a powerful finish for a 3-0 victory.
2. This is the most confident Mexico team I’ve seen in years
Think about this for a moment. Mexico is the only team at the World Cup to have won all of its matches and conceded zero goals. For the first time in history, it has had a perfect campaign in the first three games.
This is a very strong, resilient Mexican side with one goal: to work hard for everything and to win.
Anyone coming to Mexico City to face El Tri will have a tough time, and it won’t just be because of the altitude.
In the build-up to the World Cup, Aguirre created a training program that was extremely demanding because, as a former member of the 1986 team, he wanted to create a steel-minded team. It has worked.
This team is full of confidence, something I honestly haven’t been able to say in a long time.
3. Here’s to you, Memo Ochoa
(Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The game was practically won for Mexico when Aguirre made the best move and introduced the legendary Memo Ochoa in the 78th minute to replace Raúl “Tala” Rangel. A final dance for the iconic stopper, who turns 41 six days before the final.
Ochoa is now the seventh player over 40 to feature in this year’s tournament, and just for context, according to FotMob, only seven players 40 or older had appeared in the previous 22 editions of the World Cup.
And in the lofty heights of Mexico City, he joined some confirmed air: He is the first goalkeeper to appear in six World Cups and joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only three men’s players to have appeared in as many tournaments. An unused substitute in 2006 and 2010, Ochoa has now played four of the tournaments – in 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026.
At the end of the game, Ochoa knelt and took it all in as his teammates embraced him because they all knew it was likely the last time he would play as a professional.
A huge moment from a magnificent goalkeeper.
4. The future is bright for 17-year-old Gilberto Mora
(Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
At 17 years and 253 days, Mora became the youngest Mexican player to start a men’s FIFA World Cup and also the sixth-youngest starter in the entire history of the World Cup. He is also the youngest player at this particular tournament.
Performance-wise, the young man started slowly, but after the first hydration break he started to get more involved. And in the second half, even more so, made some beautiful passes that were just a little too short for his teammates. But you could see the quality.
You can also see the confidence he possesses on the right side of midfield as he is able to take on defenders and find the right pass. As a 17-year-old, to see someone with such confidence, especially on the world’s biggest stage in football, is extremely impressive.
5. The Czech Republic was a good test for Mexico
Miroslav Koubek’s side lost 2-0, but the Czech Republic proved a good opponent because it presented a different type of obstacle to what Mexico is used to. It used a five-man defensive line that liked to exploit long throw-ins and set pieces and relied on a powerful 6-foot-4 forward, Adam Hložek.
It is also a side that is very direct and also pressing, which forces El Tri to play faster, which is exactly what Mexico did in the second half. Whatever comes the co-host’s way in the round of 32 and hopefully beyond, it must now prepare for any type of opponent. And the Czech Republic’s stubborn approach is a good test.
The Czech Republic played with a lot of pressure, knowing that a win was a must. It could even have earned the group second place with a win combined with South Africa’s victory over South Korea. But unfortunately for the Czech Republic, the World Cup was over.
