Mexico clinches flawless group stage at Estadio Azteca
In front of a roaring crowd at Estadio Azteca, Mexico sealed a 3-0 triumph over the Czech Republic, completing a flawless three‑match group stage and extending the stadium’s unbeaten World Cup record to nine games.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Mateo Chávez opened the scoring, and within six minutes Julián Quiñones doubled the lead, catching the Czech defense off guard.
Alvaro Fidalgo added a third goal in stoppage time, rounding off a dominant display that saw Mexico finish the group with a perfect record, the first time they have achieved such a feat.
Coach Javier Aguirre, in his third stint in charge, fielded 25 of the tournament’s 26 eligible players, underscoring the depth of the squad and the tactical flexibility he has cultivated.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, becoming the oldest Mexican ever to appear in a World Cup at 40 years old, and joining the elite company of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, each of whom have featured in six editions of the tournament.
The match was also marked by a resurgence of a homophobic chant from sections of the crowd, a disturbing reminder of ongoing fan conduct issues that governing bodies continue to address.
Looking ahead, Mexico will meet its next opponent in the round of 32 once again at Estadio Azteca, where they remain unbeaten in 11 consecutive games since a friendly loss to Panama last November, a streak that adds further pressure and expectation to the knockout stage.