Key events
A couple subs that I missed!
For Mexico:
Obed Vargas, Santiago Giménez, and Álvaro Fidalgo are on for Guillermo Martínez, Luis Romo, and Gilberto Mora.
And for Czechia:
Tomáš Holeš, Denis Višinský, and Adam Hložek exit in favor of Patrik Schick, Lukáš Provod, and Tomáš Souček.
Pavel Nedvěd, Cezchia legend and now sporting director for the program, is shown on the broadcast and he looks profoundly unhappy. They made Nedvěd unhappy and that makes me sad.
Hydration break! Make sure to grab your beverage of choice. Let’s see if Czechia can make this interesting.
67 min: Meanwhile, in this game, Czechia is pushing to get a goal and make things somewhat interesting but every service in the box is either off target or really off target.
In other Group A news: South Africa have taken the lead against South Korea in the other game! It’s 1-0.
That result, if it holds, would put South Africa into the Round of 32, and keep South Korea waiting to see if they are one of the top eight third-placed sides.
Czechia were once again beaten down their left-hand side. Jorge Sánchez made a marauding run forward, was kept onside by a poorly positioned Czech defense, and Julián Quiñones cleaned up the mess after the initial attempt was blocked.
Goal! Mexico 2-0 Czechia (Quiñones 61′)
Mexico have doubled their lead! It wasn’t the prettiest goal but it’ll do for the home side.
58 min: Czechia have woken up a bit now, and rightfully so: This result would see them eliminated from the World Cup.
That’s Mateo Chávez’s first international goal, and what a time to get it. The AZ Alkmaar fullback did well to race through the Czech defense and evade some attempted tackles, and the finishing touch was cool and well-applied.
Goal! Mexico 1-0 Czechia (Chávez 54′)
We have a breakthrough! The home side takes the lead on a breakaway finish!
Photograph: Henry Romero/Reuters
54 min: Czechia earns a corner after a well-defended set piece. Rangel flaps at it but nobody can take advantage.
53 min: Mexico has been probing the Czechia backline with long balls from the back, most of which have been cut out easily. But they’ve had the most joy when the ball has recycled and they try playing through the midfield.
52 min: A potential chance! Luis Romo gets to a ball in the box and fires a lofted service across the face of goal, but nobody is there to greet it.
46 min: Tomáš Holeš goes down after a clash of heads in the box, he exits but it looks like he’ll play on.
Second half has begun!
The sides get under way with no changes for either side.
Reader Craig writes in…
I for one am relieved that Mexico have opted for white jerseys. I was just watching a replay of an old Chicago Fire v Seattle Sounders match where Chicago was in their traditional red and Seattle in their traditional green, and in wide angle shots it was like watching a team of 22 players in identical jerseys. I far prefer being able to identify the different teams as I’m watching. Gracias, EL TRI!
At least one person is happy watching this!
OK let’s try this: Rank your favorite ducks.
And we don’t even have Merlín the duck in the building?!
Fifa’s gone too far this time.
So, uh, anybody have any strong thoughts on that first half? Not a lot of big moments, both sides weirdly cagey. I hope someone reminds Czechia in the locker room that they need to win.
According to FotMob, the combined xG in this game is 0.46. Seems high!
Half-time!
The score is still 0-0, and only the most minor of scoring chances have presented themselves for either side.
45 min+: Julián Quiñones has had it with this “moving the ball around” BS. He blasts an effort at goal, but it goes over the bar.
45 min: We have a stoppage here for a player down off the ball. Hard to see exactly what caused it, some sort of collision, but he’s back up and they’re playing on.
44 min: A dangerous Czech free kick … and it’s entirely unthreatening.
42 min: Julián Quiñones gets possession in a dangerous area but he’s left on the ground with a challenge. No call, then Czechia earns a foul at midfield. The crowd is riled up, moreso than they have been up to this point.
39 min: A nice give-and-go between Gilberto Mora and Roberto Alvarado ends with an effort blasted comically high by Alvarado.
37 min: A bicycle kick! Israel Reyes goes acrobatic on a service that Czechia failed to clear, but his effort goes wide. That might have livened things up. Alas…
32 min: A cross looks for the forehead of Adam Hložek, but it’s way too tall.
30 min: The pace of the game has certainly slowed down quite a bit. Both sides struggling a bit to create chances.
27 min: It’s Denis Višinský again! A beautiful pirouette in the box opens a tiny shooting window, but his effort is deflected. He’s been the best player on the field so far for Czechia.
26 min: The players are hydrated, and we are back under way.
So far, Mexcio and Czechia are about even on chances. I’d have thought we’d see a bit more desire from Czechia given how badly they need a win, but maybe that’s still to come.
23 min: Mexico set up to take a freekick, but not yet! It’s hydration break time.
Everyone get hydrated!
19 min: Another injury stoppage, with Michal Sadílek sent to the turf after taking a hand (or was it an arm?) to the face.
14 min: Denis Višinský has a go from long range, but it sails high and wide. Czechia looking lively to start, feels like a goal could easily be coming if they keep this up…
Reader Justin writes in…
I’m sorry Alex, but the reason FIFA gave for kicking Merlin the duck out of the Azteca just doesn’t fly. Methinks that the suits were too busy feathering their own nest to take the time to play host to one of the tournament’s biggest stars. Still, it’s probably water off Merlin’s back to be shunned by such peacocks.
The quality of our reader emails is in full flight already!
10min: Wow, a big chance for Mexico. Edson Álvarez wins the ball, Romo has a window to shoot, but he puts it out wide and the move comes to nothing.
8 min: An early chance for Czechia! A deflected ball falls kindly for Denis Višinský, but his attempt on goal rolls agonizingly wide.
5 min: We have a short stoppage as Ladislav Krejčí looks to have suffered a head injury. He’s back up now and seems to be fine.
4 min: Are those “ole”s I’m hearing? In the fourth minute? A very confident Mexican crowd tonight (and rightfully so).
2 min: Mexico is wearing white tonight. They never look quite right to me when they’re wearing any color other than green at home. But I understand why they’re doing it – Czechia is wearing red, and red/green color blindness is a thing to account for.
Kick-off
1 min: We are under way!
Mexico is playing a rotated side, with five changes. Keep an eye on Gilberto Mora.
The 17-year-old has been hugely impressive in his early appearances for El Tri, and he gets the start today as they look to maintain momentum.
Seeing Estadio Azteca (AKA Estadio Ciudad de Mexico) lit up and in great voice like this, it really drives home what a shame it is that it won’t host any more World Cup games after the Round of 16.
Such a gargantuan, iconic venue.
OK readers, how do you think this one is going to go? Will Mexico keep the good momentum going? Will Czechia do enough to progress? You can send me an email using that handy link up there at the top.
Here come the anthems! Expect Mexico’s to be rousing as usual. It’s among my favorites in international football.
A reminder of the stakes in El Tri’s final game before the knockout round…
Mexico are through as group winners and will face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H or I.
Czechia would progress to the Round of 32 in second if they beat Mexico, and South Africa beat South Korea.
Czechia can still qualify from third place, but that remains to be seen.
Confused yet? So am I. This breakdown helped.
I am writing this to you from beautiful sunny Los Angeles, California, where unsurprisingly there are a LOT of Mexico jerseys out and about. And there’s your local color for the night.
Team news
With a place in the knockout stages guaranteed, Mexico have made four changes. Gilberto Mora, who is around 13-years-old gets the start, but promises be home in time to tidy his room and do his homework.
Mexico: Raul Rangel, Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Edson Alvarez, Israel Reyes, Mateo Chavez, Luis Romo, Gilberto Mora, Julian Quinones, Guillermo Martinez, Roberto Alvarado.
Czechia: Matej Kovar, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Vladimir Coufal, Ladislav Krejci, David Doudera, Lukas Cerv, Michal Sadilek, Adam Hlozek, Pavel Sulc, Denis Visinsky.
More Merlin news! It appears the faceless officials at Fifa have ruined his dreams of World Cup glory. This from AP:
Merlín was granted access to the Azteca Stadium grounds to film a segment with Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest television networks. Under strict security protocols, Merlín traveled comfortably inside a transport crate, accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, as curious fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the tournament’s most unexpected star. However, he could not remain for the match, as Fifa regulations prohibit animals from entering venues in order to safeguard their well-being.
Of course, the biggest Mexican news of the tournament has happened already. The team could go out in the last-32 and the important targets would still have been achieved:
Czechia face a tough route to reach the next round – they need a win today and for other results to go their way. But they’ll always have a claim on a piece of footballing history:
Preamble
Brazil have sealed their place as group winners after beating Scotland – Morocco finished second thanks to their win over Haiti. That means El Tri would face a quarter-final with Brazil in Miami if both teams progress to the quarter-finals. Mexico will play their last-32 game in Mexico City after guaranteeing their place at the top of the group with their win over South Korea. If they win their last-32 game they’ll play their next match at the Azteca too – then any further games would take place in the US.
Mexico have sealed their place in the next round, and the team is changing, along with the country. Raul Vilchis reports from Mexico City:
In a March night in Guadalajara in 2024, Club América were winning El Clásico Nacional. Julián Quiñones, their star player, had scored and headed toward the sideline. Then a shout at Quiñones, who is Black, rang out from the stands. ¡Puto negro! A racial slur.
Moments later, monkey noises were heard in the stands. The scene was familiar to anyone who follows Mexican soccer. Cell phone videos captured it. Commentators analyzed it the next day. Officials condemned it. Investigations were announced. For a few days, the Mexican game went through its ritual of shock.
Then the season continued. Another match, another transfer rumor, another refereeing controversy. That June, Quiñones moved to Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, where he would become the league’s top scorer. The incident was lost in the vast archive of soccer’s weekly dramas. Or so it seemed.
Less than two years later, another Mexican stadium produced another uproar. This time it was a celebration.
On 11 June, Quiñones scored Mexico’s first goal in the 2026 World Cup, the opening triumph in a tournament played on home soil for the first time in four decades. Tens of thousands rose to their feet. Television commentators chanted his name. Images of the striker draped in the Mexican flag flooded social media. The same culture that had publicly denigrated him hailed him as a national hero.
You can read the full report below:
Alex will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what’s left to play for in the group:
Mexico are through as group winners and will face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H or I. South Korea could match their points total but Mexico beat them so would be top on head-to-head.
South Korea would guarantee qualification with a win or draw against South Africa.
Czechia would progress in second if they beat Mexico, South Africa beat South Korea and they ultimately finish above South Africa. Should they win and finish third they may have a route.
South Africa progress in second if they beat South Korea and ultimately finish above Czechia. Should the win and finish third they may have a route.
You can read more about the permutations at the World Cup here:
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