Mexico became the first team to seal their spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup with their win in Guadalajara on Thursday night.
El Tri sealed a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea in a tense Group A clash at Guadalajara Stadium in Jalisco.
The co-hosts took advantage of a defensive blunder by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to pounce on the goal that proved the difference to eking out the tight win.
It was enough to not only clinch the victory but also to book Mexico’s place in the Round of 32.
It marks a major triumph for a team that failed to get out of the group stage in 2022 and now has won twice on home soil in front of jubilant crowds.
It was also the first time since 2002 that Mexico has topped its group at the World Cup, with that achievement last coming at the tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Mexico became the first team to seal their spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup
El Tri fans celebrate their 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday night
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (right) made a series of stunning saves to preserve the lead
Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after South Korea goalkeeper Kim collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk and dropped the ball inside the area. Romo easily found the open net after picking up the loose ball.
The South Koreans nearly equalized in the 87th minute when Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel stopped a header from close range by Cho Gue-sung, then made an even better save on the rebound, extending his right arm to keep the ball from crossing the line.
Mexico has six points from two Group A matches, three more than South Korea and five more than the Czech Republic and South Africa, who drew 1-1 earlier Thursday in Atlanta.
By winning the head-to-head tiebreaker with South Korea, Javier Aguirre’s side has already clinched the group ahead of its finale on June 24 against Czechia at the Estadio Azteca.
The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, along with the best eight third-place teams.
A round of 32 is being played for the first time at the World Cup after the tournament was expanded to 48 teams.
The victory also ensured that Mexico will play their knockout game on home soil with the team facing their opponent in Mexico City, where they opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa last week.
If El Tri advance out of the Round of 32, their Round of 16 matchup will also take place in Mexico City.
Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after a defensive error goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu
Jesus Gallardo celebrates with the fans in the stands after the final whistle is blown
However, both of Mexico’s games at the tournament so far have been rocked by chaos and violence before kickoff.
Minutes before Mexico’s Group A clash against South Korea kicked off, chaos erupted as fans attempted to break their way into fan parks across the country.
A horde of overly-excited Mexican fans sparked disorder when they forced their way into the fan zone in the city in their desperation to secure a spot.
According to videos shared to social media by local outlets, thousands of supporters broke through the FIFA-branded barriers around the Jalisco fan fest in Guadalajara as they surged into the event venue, crushing one another in the process.
Many were knocked to the floor with one woman seen being trampled over as her fellow fans rushed past her to continue their burst into the park.
They continued to pack into the Historic Center and knocked down security barriers at the Cathedral to sneak into the Plaza de Armas.
One week earlier, Mexico’s opener was hit by violent protests as riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators outside the stadium.
What was supposed to be a global celebration turned into a chaotic political nightmare, threatening to completely overshadow the tournament’s curtain-raiser.
While Mexico secured a 2-0 victory over South Africa , thousands of protesters hit the capital to voice rage over missing citizens and poor labor conditions.
