The Mexico national team's 2026 World Cup journey came to a dramatic end in the round of 16. Playing at the Azteca Stadium, El Tri were forced to concede a narrow 2-3 defeat to England in a high-tension match on Monday (6/7) evening.
This painful defeat in front of their home crowd marked a farewell for Javier Aguirre. The head coach officially announced his resignation from the helm of the Mexico national team, marking the end of his third tenure with the national squad. The baton of leadership will next be handed over to his assistant and football legend, Rafael Márquez.
In his official statement, Aguirre admitted to being overwhelmed with deep emotion. He expressed pride in the dedication of his players who fought tirelessly, despite having to swallow the bitter pill of elimination. "I leave with mixed feelings. I am proud of the family we have built, but this dream has to end here," Aguirre said emotionally.
This disappointing result also extends Mexico's dark record on the international football stage. Since the 1986 edition, Mexico has now been eliminated in the round of 16 eight consecutive times. This failure feels even heavier as it occurred with Mexico serving as the tournament host.
Meanwhile, the victory sends England through to the World Cup quarterfinals for the third consecutive time. The squad coached by Gareth Southgate is now scheduled to face Norway, led by prolific striker Erling Haaland, in Miami Gardens on Saturday (11/7).
