Mexico finally did it. After 40 years without a knockout stage win at the World Cup, they beat Ecuador 2-0 in the Round of 32. And the celebration in the locker room? It was basically a Viking funeral — but the fun kind.
Players put on Erling Haaland masks and recreated Norway’s famous rowing celebration. Yes, the same one Haaland and his teammates do after goals. Except Mexico added their own spin. They waved an imaginary Viking helmet around and some of them tried to look serious while wearing a guy’s face that wasn’t theirs. It was goofy. It was perfect.
The team posted video of the moment on social media, and ESPN Deportes shared it. Haaland himself sent a shoutout to El Tri. So yeah, that happened.
Mexico’s win didn’t just break a curse. It broke something else too — three people died during celebrations in Mexico City, according to local reports. The mood in the stadium was electric, but the aftermath had a real cost.
Still, in the dressing room, the vibe was pure relief mixed with chaos. Players wore those masks like they were going to a costume party that doubled as a national catharsis. They earned it. They hadn’t won a knockout match since 1986. That’s not a stat you want on your resume. Now it’s gone.
What’s next for El Tri
Mexico faces England in the Round of 16 on July 5. That’s a huge matchup. England has looked sharp, but Mexico has home crowd advantage and apparently a lot of pent-up energy. Norway also qualified for the Round of 16 — they beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and will face Brazil. So Haaland’s team is still alive, and Mexico took a minute to tip their caps to him before moving on.
Coach Javier Aguirre talked about the connection with fans after the game. He told The Straits Times that this was different from his previous World Cup runs. “I’ve had some great victories, but none like today’s because it’s at home, with your own people,” he said. He mentioned that in 2002 and 2010, his teams got stuck in the group stage. This time, they broke through. “Today there was a huge communion with the people.”
It’s easy to forget that this Mexico team came in with pressure. Not just to win, but to prove they belonged in the knockout rounds at all after decades of heartbreak. They did it. And they did it with a Viking rowing move and a bunch of plastic masks. Sometimes that’s all you need.
England next. But for one night, Mexico got to be the team that finally broke the curse — and celebrated like a guy from Norway.
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