Mateo Chavez picked the perfect time to score his first World Cup goal. The 22-year-old defender broke a scoreless deadlock in the 55th minute to send Mexico on the way to a 3-0 win over Czechia in the Group A finale at Azteca Stadium on Wednesday.
Chavez collected the ball inside the penalty area and fired a low strike into the bottom left corner, beating the keeper clean.
MATEO CHAVEZ DELIVERS FOR MEXICO 💯pic.twitter.com/w98ydrVpDB
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 25, 2026
The goal flipped a tight match wide open. Julian Quiñones doubled the lead just six minutes later in the 61st, pouncing on a Czech defensive error to finish from close range for his second goal of the tournament. Alvaro Fidalgo capped the rout in second-half stoppage time, slotting home after a clever ball from Roberto Alvarado.
The result carried real weight for El Tri. Mexico swept all three group-stage matches for the first time in World Cup history, topping a mark of two wins and a draw set back in 1986 and 2002. The co-hosts finished top of Group A and booked a round-of-32 date back at Azteca next Tuesday.
There was history off the scoresheet, too. Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa came on late to make his 153rd appearance for Mexico and feature in a record sixth World Cup. Earlier, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the youngest player ever to start a World Cup match for Mexico.
For Chavez, the night marked a breakout moment on the biggest stage. He has stepped into a key role at left-back and answered with the opening goal in front of a roaring home crowd. The strike could earn the young defender an even bigger say in how far Mexico runs in front of its own fans.
Czechia, meanwhile, heads home early. A single point from three matches sealed elimination at the group stage, a bitter end to a campaign that promised more.
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