Mexico 0-0 Ecuador Takeaway: Mexico out, warning over homophobic chant

Mexico needed to defeat Ecuador in their final Group B match to advance to the Copa América knockout stage, but they could only draw 0–0. They almost got a lifeline in the final seconds of extra time when the referee initially awarded a penalty to Mexico but the call was overturned after reviewing the video.

Mexico managed to score only one goal in 270 minutes in group play in a disappointing tournament for the 2026 World Cup co-hosts. At the end of Sunday’s game, three announcements were also made over the tannoy at State Farm Stadium warning fans to stop the discriminatory chant. A statement warning that the referee had the right to suspend the match if the homophobic abuse continued was also shown in Spanish on the big screen.

And Ecuador’s reward for stopping Mexico? Quarter-final clash with world champions Argentina on July 4 in Houston.

Stuart James and Thom Harris assess the key points of discussion…

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Will Argentina be worried by what they saw in this match?

nerves? Perhaps. Enough to worry Argentina? Absolutely not.

This was a must-win match for Mexico and a must-win match for Ecuador, but for long stretches of sloppy play it seemed as if neither side really had it in them. What he wanted. Poor first touches, aimless long balls, slips, falls and fouls, especially in a goalless opening 45 minutes, it was all there.

An excerpt from half an hour of play summed it up, as Alan Franco inexplicably lofted a five-yard pass to the chest of Piero Hincapie. The left-back had no option but to take control and swing it wildly down the line. Two minutes later, the usually pristine Bayer Leverkusen centre-back badly fouled another long ball out of play. When Ecuador reached the final third – as they did with Ener Valencia in the 80th minute – it was a shock decision that let them down.

Mexico were also not brimming with ideas, and although they increased the intensity significantly in the second half as their need for goals became greater, the best chances came from set-pieces, penalty-box pinball and moments of individualism. Instead of something constructed in the dressing room. The 96th-minute penalty, ultimately overturned by VAR, would have been the most dramatic get-out-of-jail-free card of the competition.

As the reigning world champions wait for the next round, things have to be organised. Argentina have kept clean sheets in seven of their last eight competitive games, and will certainly not be broken without a more complex plan.

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Santi Giménez’s goalless group stage

Lost causes. Santiago Jimenez spent a lot of time chasing another disappointing evening for the Mexico striker, who leaves the Copa America without a goal to his name and his barren streak for his country extends to 12 matches.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. A header went inches wide in the first half, then a right-footed shot went wide of the post in the second period. In between, Jimenez never stopped running the channels, looking for long balls that Mexico hoped would bring some joy.

His big chance came in the last game against Venezuela, and you have to wonder how different things could have been for Jimenez had he connected cleanly in front of goal in Los Angeles.

Brilliant in a Feyenoord shirt, the 23-year-old has been unable to transfer that form to international football. Inevitably, questions will be asked in Mexico about the decision to leave two experienced strikers Henry Martin and Raul Jimenez at home. But the quality of Mexico’s attacking play generally suggests that any center forward would have struggled to make much of an impact here.

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What went wrong for Mexico?

The disappointment will linger for some time for Mexico, whose hopes of reaching the Copa America quarter-finals were ended as expected.

Predictable because Mexico posed very little attacking threat, with the only tournament goal scored by left-back Gerardo Arteaga in the opening game against Jamaica, which now feels like a long time ago.

The defeat against Venezuela, when Orbelín Pineda missed a penalty, meant that El Tri would have to beat Ecuador to advance – a result that rarely looked possible in a game that highlighted Mexico’s limitations. He expressed his displeasure but the quality was severely lacking.

Mexico failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2011 and 2015 Copa America tournaments but this latest setback will hurt. Apparently, Mexico got a draw of sorts, yet were unable to get past the two second-tier CONMEBOL nations.

The spotlight will now be on coach Jaime Lozano, who was assured he will remain in post until the end of the 2026 World Cup. Will elimination here in the group stage force a rethink?

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What’s next for each team?

argentina vs ecuador – Thursday, July 4, 9:00 PM ET (NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas)

Mexico Is out of the tournament.

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What did the managers say?

Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez said on facing Argentina: “They are the reigning world champions, Copa America champions, and they have the best players in the world, playing at the best clubs in the world. They have a solid group, and they have developed a clear idea under the same coach (Lionel Scaloni)… We have to play a perfect game, but we will go into it motivated. It’s 11 versus 11 and we’re going to do everything we can.”

Mexico coach Jaime Lozano on his future: “Doubts start to arise whenever you don’t achieve your objectives, but if the players believe until the end that it is for a reason, that association, this circle and this commitment. It’s not easy to make, they had seven weeks before and during the competition and other people will decide what happens next but it’s clear to me that we went out and were heroes.

Lozano on what is missing for Mexico: “We have improved a lot defensively, but now we have to find that balance and work on that patience, putting the finishing touches in the attacking third. We have gained a lot from these players in this tournament and it is an experience that will help us.”

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(Top photo: Chris Cuduto/AFP via Getty Images)