Guillermo Ochoa receives tribute in his possible last game with Mexico

El Tricolor closes undefeated and without goals against

The Mexican National Team completed an impeccable group stage. With the 3-0 win over the Czech Republic, they added their third win and finished as the absolute leader. Javier Aguirre’s campaign prioritizes results over spectacle, and it works for him: 11 games without losing and zero goals conceded in the tournament.

The Mexico City Stadium vibrated with 80,824 spectators. The team arrived at the last duel with a guaranteed place in the second round, which allowed them to rotate players and give minutes to Memo Ochoa, a request from the fans.

The goals came in the second half: Mateo Chávez at 55, Julián Quiñones at 61 and Álvaro Fidalgo at 90+4. The victory was not brilliant, but it was overwhelming.

The night of Memo Ochoa

In the end, Ochoa was left alone in the area, leaning on the penalty spot. He cried for a few seconds until the entire team came to hug him. It was his night, a recognition of more than 20 years of experience.

Mexico achieved what it had never done before: win all its group stage matches. The streets of the capital, its squares and the Colossus of Santa Úrsula exude excitement. Good football is the least important thing; effectiveness rules.

South African victory in the Steel Giant

The South African team gave the surprise of the day by narrowly beating South Korea at the Monterrey stadium. The result shakes the sector and places the South Africans as second in Group A, led by Mexico.

The winning goal

After an intense but goalless first half, due to the defensive order of both teams, the African team broke the scoreless score in the second half. Taphelo Maseko drilled Kim Seung-gyu’s goal in the 63rd minute, unleashing euphoria in the stands.

Impact on the table

With this victory, “Bafana Bafana” add four points and move South Korea to third place, with three points. Furthermore, the combination of results sentenced the fate of the bloc: the Czech Republic was prematurely eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil advances as leader of Group C

Vinícius Junior scored two goals and Matheus Cunha one more as Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 on Wednesday, securing first place in Group C at the World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is seeking its first world title since 2002.

Real Madrid star Vinícius opened the scoring in the 7th minute after taking advantage of a Scottish defensive error. Before the break, he headed into an empty goal to make it 2-0. With this double, he has four goals in the group stage, equaling Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Lionel Messi leads the table with five.

Ancelotti highlighted the team’s progress after the 1-1 draw against Morocco in the debut.

“We are working to play the best we can. The goal is not to play well, but to win. If we win the World Cup, we play well. If not, we play badly.”

The return of Neymar

Neymar came on in the 76th minute as a substitute, recovered from a right calf injury. The crowd at Hard Rock Stadium chanted his name as he warmed up. The 34-year-old forward is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 130 games.

“He deserved the opportunity. He did well, although he played few minutes,” Ancelotti said.

Brazil advances to the round of 16 for the fifteenth consecutive time. Morocco also qualified as second, after beating Haiti 4-2.

Scotland, which has not participated in a World Cup since 1998, has not made it past the group stage in nine attempts. Defender Nathan Patterson commented:

“We knew they have a first-class squad. They generate great threats. We gave them easy goals.”