Mexico beats Czech Republic 3-0 to
win all 3 World Cup group-stage matches for 1st time
[June 25, 2026]
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Javier Aguirre has been saying for a while now
that the key to the Mexican team’s success at the World Cup is that
they are a family. This family, it seems, is on a historic journey.
Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored in a six-minute span early
in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on
Wednesday to complete wins in all three of its World Cup group-stage
matches for the first time.
The 22-year-old Chávez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring
in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the
tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in stoppage
time.
“It was something very beautiful, and I’ll take it with me to the
grave,” Chávez said of his goal. “I imagined it many times; I
dreamed of this.”
Mexico's previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one
draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the
first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri's coach. Aguirre is
back as coach this year, his third stint leading the national team.
After topping Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on
Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.
“Now comes the knockout stage; statistics and data don’t matter.
We’re achieving things, but what lies ahead is what counts,” Aguirre
said. “Neither the players nor I dwell on what we’ve just done;
we’re thinking about what’s next.”
Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive
stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has
only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying
against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.
The match Wednesday included nods to Mexico’s past and future.
Gilberto Mora, at 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in
a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa
entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six
World Cups.
Mora said “it’s like a dream come true after everything I’ve worked
for.”
“Now we have tough opponents ahead,” he added. “We’re going to keep
working to stay on this path. We want to keep advancing because the
Mexican national team can become champion.”
Mexico's triumph was marred, however, by the return of a homophobic
chant by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions
against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur, was heard
near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar
took a goal kick.
The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three
games.
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Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, top, celebrates with teammates
following the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and
Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando
Llano)
Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly
loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of
his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chávez was one
of five starters Wednesday who didn't start in the previous win over
South Korea.
“Twenty-five of the 26 have played — that is no
small detail — nor is it a small detail that everyone celebrates the
goals,” Aguirre said.
Ochoa makes history in his likely farewell
Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes in regulation,
plus stoppage time, in what's likely to be his last appearance for
Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and plans to retire from
international competition after the World Cup.
“Life — football — had this farewell in store for me, to cap it all
off perfectly. For my part, I’ve left it all out there; I gave
everything,” Ochoa said. “I leave with nothing left because I poured
it all into my teams and the national squad.”
He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for
Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
“I felt Memo had to play (but) for how long? I never knew until I
said, ‘This is the moment,’” Aguirre said. “These are coaching
decisions, but it was a night for Mexico to honor its legend, Memo.”
Raúl Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured
Luis Ángel Malagón, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations
League and Gold Cup last year. Malagón's injury opened the door for
Ochoa's return.
Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The
previous record holder was Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was 37 when he
played in South Africa in 2014.
After the match, the veteran goalkeeper kissed the goal post before
kneeling down and was hugged by the rest of the squad.
“Regarding Memo’s appearance, we don’t know if he’s going to say
goodbye or not, but it was a nice tribute for his six World Cups,”
added Aguirre. “He is a legend — he is Mexican.”
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