From The Sports Desk: Mexico’s first knockout win in four decades

World CupFrom The Sports Desk: Mexico’s first knockout win in four decadesMexico won a knockout game for the first time since 1986 when it beat Ecuador 2-0 yesterday. Elsewhere, Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1, and France hammered Sweden 3-0.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Players of Mexico celebrate victory after the match between Mexico and Ecuador at the Mexico City Stadium on June 30.Wu Wei / Xinhua News Agency via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 1, 2026, 11:10 AM EDTBy Mark HodgeMexico broke a four-decade drought in the knockout stages of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador yesterday.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within nine minutes in the first half to send the co-host through to the round of 16, the country’s first knockout win at the tournament since 1986.The result sparked massive celebrations in Mexico City, with thousands of fans taking to the streets.The team will play another home match on Sunday against the winner of today’s match between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Also in action yesterday, Norway won a close-fought contest against the Ivory Coast, thanks to Erling Haaland’s winner in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 victory. The Vikings will meet five-time champion Brazil on Sunday.Tournament favorite France swept Sweden aside 3-0. The French will play Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday.PreviewThe U.S., brimming with confidence after topping its group, enters the knockout round against Bosnia-Herzegovina as the favorite. But history is against the Americans, having never beaten a European side in the World Cup knockouts before.While the U.S. made it to the semifinals at the inaugural tournament in 1930 by winning its group, its only win in a knockout round came in 2002, when it beat rival Mexico 2-0 before losing to Germany in the quarterfinals.The U.S. is 1-13-7 against Europ...