Mexico, France Cruise into World Cup Last 16

July.01 (Mirror Sports) - Mexico and France secured emphatic victories to book their places in the World Cup last 16, delivering commanding performances in the knockout stage.

Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory with a confident 2–0 win over 10-man Ecuador at the Azteca Stadium.

First-half goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez set the tone early, as the co-hosts overwhelmed Ecuador with relentless pressure in front of a packed home crowd. Despite a weather delay due to thunderstorms in Mexico City, Mexico maintained control from the opening minutes and were rarely threatened, extending their unbeaten run while still yet to concede in the tournament.

Ecuador showed brief resistance after the break but failed to break through a disciplined Mexican defence, before frustrations boiled over late on with a stoppage-time red card.

Meanwhile, France continued their ruthless form with a 3–0 win over Sweden, powered once again by a standout performance from Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice to underline his status as the tournament’s leading star. France dominated from start to finish, with their attacking unit clicking fluently as they secured a comfortable passage to the next round.

With both Mexico and France advancing in style, the knockout stage is beginning to take shape, with heavyweight momentum building toward the quarter-finals.