The three North American host nations are still alive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After Canada became the first co-host to secure its place in the Round of 16, Mexico and the United States followed with statement victories of their own, giving the region another unforgettable chapter in a tournament already filled with historic moments and Leagues Cup could soon follow. Leagues Cup tickets are currently available at www.leaguescup.com/tickets/
Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 at Mexico City Stadium (also known as Estadio Banorte), earning its first win in the elimination stage of a World Cup since 1986. The result carried an extra layer of history: Mexico’s last knockout-stage victory also came by a 2-0 scoreline, against Bulgaria in the 1986 Round of 16, and was played in the same iconic stadium.
Julián Quiñones delivered the defining performance of the match for El Tri, finishing with a goal and an assist to help send Mexico into the next round. Born in Colombia, Quiñones has spent the majority of his professional career in Mexico and has become a key figure for the national team. Through four matches, he now has three goals in the tournament and continues to be one of Mexico’s most dangerous attacking players.
Raúl Jiménez, another player with deep Liga MX roots after beginning his career with Club América, also found the net against Ecuador and now has two goals at the tournament. Roberto Alvarado, currently with Chivas, added an assist and continued what has been one of the most impressive and perhaps surprising individual performances of Mexico’s World Cup campaign.
The reward is massive: a Sunday showdown against England at Mexico City Stadium. England advanced with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Congo, setting up one of the biggest matchups of the tournament. England and Mexico have not met often in recent years, and their last match in Mexico came in 1985, one year before the 1986 World Cup. Now, four decades later, the two nations return to the same stage for a game that will capture the attention of the soccer world.
The United States also booked its place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Bay Area. Folarin Balogun opened the scoring and continued his strong tournament, but his red card later in the match created a major complication for the Americans. Balogun, the team’s leading scorer at this World Cup, will now miss Monday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium.
That absence creates the biggest tactical question for the United States moving forward. Ricardo Pepi could be called upon to replace Balogun in the starting lineup, and the U.S. will need someone to provide the same threat in front of goal against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Defensively, however, the Americans continue to have a reliable foundation. Team captain Tim Ream, who represents Charlotte FC at club level, helped guide the back line through another important shutout. Behind him, New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese has continued to establish himself as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The Belgium matchup also comes with history. The last time the United States faced Belgium in a World Cup knockout match was in the 2014 Round of 16, when Belgium won 2-1 after extra time. All three goals in that game came after the 90th minute, and the match remains one of the most memorable knockout games in recent U.S. World Cup history.
Now, the United States gets another chance.
With all three co-host nations advancing, North America’s World Cup is no longer just about hosting the tournament. It is about competing deep into it. And as the knockout rounds continue, many of the players shaping these historic moments will soon bring that same momentum back to Leagues Cup.
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