In this 2026 World Cup, one of the teams that has left good feelings is, in fact, one of the hosts: Mexico.
The team led by Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre has completed a dream group stage, since he won all his matches and earned a perfect score of nine pointswaiting for their duel in the round of 32 against Ecuador this June 30.
“El Tri” is living a moment in which expectations are at the highest, mainly because the Mexican team has the opportunity to break a “curse” that has haunted the team for almost eight World Cups.
Sports and international media, such as Brandthey call this phenomenon “the curse of the fourth game”an expression that in Mexico has been synonymous with frustration, memes, comedy and, now, hope that “El Vasco” can break it.
This dates back to the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when the team of Mexico was eliminated in the round of 16 by Bulgaria in a penalty shootout 3-1.
What was then a painful, but acceptable, defeat has become a constant for the Mexican team in World Cup competitions. since since that edition “El Tri” has not been able to overcome the fourth game, that is, the round of 16.
It is called the fourth match because the three matches that all the teams play in the group stage are added together and then the round of 16 match, where direct elimination begins.
According to BrandMexico accumulates eight World Cups without surpassing “the fourth game”. In one of them, Qatar 2022, they did not even advance from the group stage.
In the 2018 World Cup, Mexico fell 2-0 to Brazil; In 2014, they lost 2-1 against the Netherlands; in South Africa 2010, 3-1 against Argentina; in Germany 2006, 2-1 against Argentina; in Korea and Japan 2002, 2-0 against the USA; in France 1998, 2-1 against Germany; and in the United States 1994 it was eliminated by Bulgaria.
Now, since Mexico is one of the three host teams that advanced to the round of 16, along with France and Argentina, Hopes are placed on the “El Vasco” team to break, once and for all, that curse and reach the long-awaited “fifth game.”
The only difference in this World Cup is, due to the implementation of the round of 32, Mexico has to win one more match to advance to the long-awaited quarterfinals.
Also read: “Is he chesty?”: Faitelson criticizes Javier Aguirre and warns about overconfidence