The Mexico national football team is set to clash with the Ecuador national football team in a decisive Group B match at the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™. This highly anticipated encounter, scheduled for Sunday, June 30th, will determine which of these two teams advances to the coveted Quarterfinals, as Venezuela has already secured their qualification. For Ecuador, a draw would be sufficient to progress, adding immense pressure on Mexico to secure a victory.
This pivotal match will unfold at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, marking the final Group Stage game for both nations in this prestigious tournament. Fans across the Americas are eagerly awaiting the 5 p.m. local time (MST) kickoff, which translates to 6 p.m. in Mexico City, 7 p.m. in Quito, and 9 p.m. in Brasília. Without a doubt, this Mexico vs. Ecuador fixture stands out as a major highlight of the Copa América 2024 Group Stage’s third and final round.
Ecuador enters this crucial game with boosted morale following a convincing 3-1 triumph over Jamaica in their previous match. Coach Félix Sánchez’s squad capitalized on a strong first half, establishing a 2-0 lead before halftime and sealing the victory with a late goal from Alan Minda. With the Group B standings finely balanced, Ecuador’s offensive capabilities, having already scored 4 goals in the tournament, will be a key factor in their quest for qualification. Adding to their strength, Ecuador’s captain and leading goal scorer, Enner Valencia, is poised to return to the starting lineup after serving a suspension against Jamaica.
Alt text: Enner Valencia, Ecuador’s experienced striker and captain, pictured in national team jersey, focusing intensely ahead of the crucial Copa America match against Mexico.
Conversely, the Mexico national football team arrives at this critical juncture mirroring Ecuador’s position with 3 points, but trailing due to tiebreaker rules. Consequently, “El Tri” must secure a win to guarantee their passage to the Quarterfinals. Jaime Lozano’s team needs to sharpen their offensive edge after struggling to convert opportunities in their previous match against Venezuela. Despite generating a high expected goals (xG) of 2.88 in that game, including a missed penalty in the dying moments, Mexico failed to equalize, largely due to an exceptional goalkeeping performance by Rafael Romo. Improved finishing, particularly from forward Santiago Giménez, will be paramount for Mexico in this decisive encounter.
Alt text: Santiago Gimenez, Mexico’s key striker, dynamically pictured during a previous match, highlighting his crucial role in the Mexico national team’s offensive strategy against Ecuador.
Simultaneously, Group B leaders Venezuela will face already-eliminated Jamaica in a parallel match. Venezuela needs only a draw to solidify their top spot in the group. This setup suggests a high-stakes, offensive-minded clash between CONMEBOL’s Ecuador and CONCACAF’s Mexico as both teams fight for their Copa América 2024 survival.
Where to Watch Mexico vs. Ecuador Live
Fans eager to watch the Mexico national football team against the Ecuador national football team can tune in to the following broadcasters and streaming platforms:
- In Mexico: Canal 5, TUDN, VIX, TV Azteca.
- In Ecuador: TV Ecuavisa, DirecTV.
- In the United States: Univision, Unimás, TUDN, Fox, FS1, FS2.
- In Canada: RDS, TSN, TSN+.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. local time (Pacific Time, GMT-7), 6 p.m. Mexico City time, and 7 p.m. Quito time.
Historical Head-to-Head: Mexico vs. Ecuador in Copa América
Historically, Mexico and Ecuador have faced each other 5 times in the CONMEBOL Copa América™. Their first encounter dates back to 1993, with their most recent tournament match in 2015. Mexico holds a favorable record with 3 wins, while Ecuador has secured victory once, and one match ended in a draw. In these Copa América clashes, Mexico has scored 8 goals compared to Ecuador’s 5.
Looking at their recent encounters across all competitions, the last 5 results are:
- Mexico 0-0 Ecuador – Friendly (2022)
- Mexico 2-3 Ecuador – Friendly (2021)
- Mexico 3-2 Ecuador – Friendly (2019)
- Mexico 1-2 Ecuador – CONMEBOL Copa América™ (2015)
- Mexico 1-0 Ecuador – Friendly (2015)
Key Match Facts
- Mexico boasts their best Copa América record against Ecuador among teams they’ve faced at least five times, with a 60% win rate (3 wins in 5 matches). The other teams meeting this criterion are Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.
- Ecuador aims to achieve consecutive Copa América wins against Mexico for the first time since 1977. “La Tri” has won two of their last three Copa América matches against CONCACAF opponents, including a 2-1 victory over Mexico in 2015.
- Mexico has struggled against South American teams in recent Copa América history, with only one win in their last 10 matches (1 win, 6 losses, 3 draws). Furthermore, Mexico has failed to score in their last two Copa América games against CONMEBOL teams.
- “El Tri” leads Group B in shots on goal, averaging 19 shots per game across their first two matches, totaling 38 shots. An impressive 14 different Mexican players have registered shots, with Luis Chávez (6) and Julián Quiñones (5) leading the count.
- Ecuador’s Kendry Páez and Venezuela’s Salomón Rondón are joint top for shots among Group B players in the first two rounds of Copa América 2024, with 8 shots each. Both players have scored one goal in the tournament, both from penalty kicks.
Predicted Lineups: Mexico vs. Ecuador
While official lineups will be confirmed closer to the match, here are the predicted lineups for the Mexico national football team vs Ecuador national football team based on recent team selections and availability:
Mexico Predicted Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Julio González
- Defenders: Jorge Sánchez, César Montes (C), Johan Vásquez, Gerardo Arteaga
- Midfielders: Luis Romo, Luis Chávez, Uriel Antuna, Carlos Rodríguez (potentially Orbelín Pineda)
- Forwards: Julián Quiñones, Santiago Giménez
Coach: Jaime Lozano
Ecuador Predicted Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Alexander Domínguez
- Defenders: Ángelo Preciado, Félix Torres, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié
- Midfielders: Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, John Yeboah, Kendry Páez, Jeremy Sarmiento
- Forward: Enner Valencia
Coach: Félix Sánchez
These predicted lineups suggest both teams will field strong sides for this crucial Group B finale. The inclusion of Enner Valencia for Ecuador and Santiago Giménez for Mexico highlights the attacking threat both teams possess.
Match Officials
- Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
- Assistant Referees: Luis Ventura (Guatemala), Brooke Mayo (United States)
- Fourth Official: M. Victoria Penso (United States)
- VAR: Silvio Trucco (Argentina)
Match Details
- Match: Mexico vs Ecuador (Group B, Third Round)
- Date and Time: June 30, 2024, 5 p.m. local time (MST) – 6 p.m. Mexico City, 7 p.m. Ecuador
- Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
This Mexico national football team vs Ecuador national football team match is set to be a thrilling and decisive encounter in Copa América 2024. Football fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the kickoff to see which team will secure their place in the Quarterfinals.