Mexico celebrates magical World Cup win over Czechia at rowdy Azteca Stadium

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.

Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal for the Mexican national team.

Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.

Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.

The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.

Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome.

“It’s something I’ve always worked toward — playing in a World Cup at Azteca Stadium

,” Mora said after the match.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with the young players’ performances.

“This is a generation of young players who aren’t afraid to take risks with the ball,” Aguirre said. “We have a solid foundation for what lies ahead.”

With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.

Ochoa was handed the captain’s armband.

The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball. He has played in six World Cups, including starting and serving as a key player during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

He saluted the fans during the game and kissed the goalposts when the final whistle blew.

“It was a fitting tribute; he’s a legend,” Aguirre said. “I felt that Memo should play, but I didn’t know for how long. Mexico had its night to celebrate a legend.”

Ochoa took photos with his family after his teammates tossed him into the air and he hugged all players from Mexican and Czechia.

“Sometimes things just fall into place; history wanted it this way… the result, the setting… I’m very grateful,” said Ochoa, 40, in a postgame interview with TV Azteca.

Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.

“I have an extraordinary group of players,” said Aguirre, who emphasized that 25 of his 26 players on the roster have seen action.

After the Czechia match, Aguirre spoke about the “emotional balance” he demands from his players, especially when facing boos from their own fans following a poor first half. Boos were also directed at his players during El Tri’s first two World Cup matches.

“There was some booing, but the team showed mental strength,” said Aguirre, who noted that he was not satisfied with the first 25 minutes of the match.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.

With its three victories in the group stage, Mexico is now on a nine-game unbeaten streak so far in 2026, with seven wins and two draws.

“The statistics and the data — they’re just there. At the end of the day, what really matters is what comes next,” said Aguirre. “We can’t stop now.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said his team needs to improve following its disappointing performance in this World Cup and attributed Wednesday’s poor showing to his players’ fatigue.

“The tournament has taught us that we need to improve. We need to select players who can compete at this level. We need to improve technically,” Koubek said. “We’ve seen this in recent years. We need to improve. We saw it today — we had some good moments, but it wasn’t enough.”

“We had players who didn’t play well, and that surprised us. We had players with injuries; their recovery took much longer than we wanted,” added Koubek, who thanked fans who traveled to Mexico City to support their national team.

The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.