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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Chris Wilson

The Mexico curse driving World Cup co-hosts to beat Ecuador in last 32

World Cup Ecuador Mexico El Tri Javier Aguirre Gonzalo Plata Guillermo Ochoa Nilson Angulo
Mexico take on Ecuador in the round of 32 at the Mexico City Stadium on Tuesday evening - (Reuters)

With the round of 32 now underway at the 2026 World Cup, plenty of expectation surrounds the three co-hosts, but nowhere more so than in Mexico.

This is a nation with a proud and rich footballing history, unlike their co-hosts, but it has never advanced past the World Cup quarter-finals, without a match beyond the last 16 since 1986. There is hope that 2026 can be a year of firsts.

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