Mexico’s advantage on home turf was evident even before Ecuador made their way to the iconic Estadio Azteca.
As the World Cup Round of 32 match approached in Mexico City on Tuesday, numerous Mexican fans gathered outside the Ecuadorian team’s hotel. This gathering turned into quite a spectacle. Videos circulating on social media depicted supporters revving car engines, riding motorbikes, and playing trumpets and drums, all in an effort to disrupt Ecuador’s rest before such a crucial match.
Some Ecuadorian players were spotted peering out of their hotel rooms amid the ruckus.
This boisterous scene added to the already charged atmosphere surrounding the match. Mexico, under the guidance of coach Javier Aguirre, entered the knockout stage with a flawless group performance, winning all three matches without conceding any goals. Conversely, Ecuador managed to secure a formidable position after pulling off a surprising 2-1 victory against Germany.
Historical matchups indicate that this could be a close contest. The last three encounters between Mexico and Ecuador have ended in draws, revealing a pattern of tightly contested games.
Mexico is hopeful that playing at the Azteca will give them an edge.
With a capacity of 80,000, El Tri’s home ground is considered one of the most daunting venues in international football. Mexico has a perfect record at the World Cup in this stadium, with their only win in the finals occurring against Bulgaria in 1986.
While Ecuador is accustomed to high altitudes from playing in Quito, Tuesday night might still feel like a challenging environment.
This notion was something Mexican fans seemed to believe right from the outset.
