2 min learnUp to date: Jul 1, 2026 06:56 AM IST
A thunderstorm over the Mexico Metropolis Stadium space has delayed the Spherical of 32 conflict between Mexico and Ecuador. In line with a report by information company Related Press, the storm within the space began two hours earlier than the knockout match was set to start.
The report added that no announcement was made on when it will begin.
Mexico are one of many three co-hosts of the continuing FIFA World Cup together with Canada and the USA. The South American facet is hoping to make use of dwelling circumstances to make a deep run within the event. Historical past has it that Mexico’s finest World Cup performances (reaching the quarter-finals) have all the time come once they have hosted the event, in 1970 after which in 1986.
Mexico have already used dwelling circumstances to nice benefit on the 2026 World Cup, profitable all their three group stage video games. Ecuador, in the meantime, reached this spherical by ending third in Group E, behind Germany and Ivory Coast.
All three of Mexico’s group stage wins got here at venues greater than 5,000 toes (1,524 meters) above sea stage. El Tri typically capitalized late, scoring 5 of its six objectives after halftime, maybe as fatigue started to take its toll.
Nevertheless, within the type of Ecuador, Mexico are more likely to discover a nation who’re as much as the duty, regardless of the excessive altitude of roughly 7,300 toes (2,200 meters) elevation on the Azteca in Mexico Metropolis.
Ecuador typically performs dwelling matches at greater than 9,000 toes (2,743 meters) in Quito, and, like Mexico, has used geography to its benefit. The Ecuadorians went unbeaten at dwelling throughout qualifying and had victories over Uruguay, Chile, Peru and Venezuela in Quito.
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Mexican followers tormented Ecuador workforce with sirens
In line with one other report in The Related Press, Mexican soccer followers tried their finest to torment Ecuador gamers earlier than the Spherical of 32 conflict. A lot in order that the Ecuadorian federation has filed a proper criticism with World Cup organizers concerning the ways utilized by Mexican soccer followers to rattle their gamers.
Followers gathered outdoors the Westin Lodge in Santa Fe the place Ecuador are staying and used loudspeakers, horns and bikes to disturb the visiting workforce’s relaxation.