The Mexican National Team curse in World Cups

Quarter finals. That is the limit to date for a national team that dreams of breaking that barrier and being able to sneak among the four best in the world to try to qualify for the title. However, the Mexican National Team does not tread the fifth game of a World Cup since Mexico 1986. From there, six consecutive editions in which they have left the tournament in the round of 16.

Mexico lengthens its curse. After losing 2 to 0 against Brazil in Russia 2018, the ‘Tri’ has seven consecutive defeats in the second round and has only played the quarter-finals when it has been host (1970 and 1986). 

Mexico National Team: How were their last eliminations?

- United States 1994: The Mexican ordeal of the round of 16 began against Bulgaria in a penalty shootout (3-1) after drawing 1-1. The Aztecs missed the first three shots and dropped out of the competition. Precisely the last time that Mexico had played the fourth was after beating Bulgaria 2-0 in 1986.

- France 1998: In France, Manuel Lapuente's team fell in the second round before German efficiency (2-1), despite the fact that Luis Hernández opened the scoring. El Tri said goodbye after two goals in the last quarter of an hour from Jürgen Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff.

- Korea - Japan 2002: In the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Mexico had the opportunity to break the curse of the second round against its neighbor the United States. And it was the most painful defeat. Team USA won with goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan (2-0). The curse of the fifth game was definitely installed.

- Germany 2006: The closest time they came to passing that fifth game, but Argentina won 2-1 in extra time with a volley to the memory of Maxi Rodríguez. That night in Leipzig it was heard: "Mexico played like never before and lost like always".

- South Africa 2010: The curse turned white and blue. Mexico fell to Argentina (3-1), led by Diego Maradona. The ‘Tri’ dominated and conceded a first goal, offside, by Carlos Tevez. In the second, Ricardo Osorio missed a pass and Gonzalo Higuaín took advantage of it. He had not left and Tevez signed the sentence. Chicharito Hernández scored the goal of honor.

- Brazil 2014: This time the nightmare was orange. The players led by Miguel Herrera lost 2-1 to the Netherlands with two goals down the stretch, in 88 and 90 + 4. Mexico was leading 1-0 thanks to a goal by Giovani Dos Santos (48), but he got into his area and ended up giving in to the Oranje offense. Wesley Sneijder scored and then came the penalty transformed by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

- Russia 2018: Mexico won their first two group stage matches, but fell thrashed by Sweden in the third (3-0), which placed them second in their group, so they played against Brazil. La Canarinha made 20 shots, 10 of them direct, to the goal of 'Memo' Ochoa. Neymar scored in the 51st minute after an escape by Willian's wing. Roberto Firmino sealed the fate of Mexico after another escape by the band, this time from Neymar at 88 '.