Mexico face Portugal in Round of 16 at FIFA U-17 World Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 continues on Tuesday with Concacaf nation Mexico meeting Portugal in the Round of 16 at Aspire Zone - Pitch 3 in Doha, Qatar.

For the eighth consecutive edition, and 11th overall, Mexico has reached at least the Round of 16 of the U-17 World Cup. Two-time winners in the category, Mexico is seeking to reach the Quarterfinals for the eighth time.

After drawing 2-2 in regulation, Mexico outlasted Argentina on 5-4 in the penalty shootout to advance from the Round of 32. Goalkeeper Santiago Lopez was the hero with a big save to start the spot kicks and converted the winning penalty in the fifth round of kicks. Luis Gamboa struck a brace in the second half to help Mexico advance.

Anisio Cabral scored a brace for Portugal in the 2-1 win over Belgium in the Round of 32. Cabral leads all players in the 2025 edition with five goals.

Mexico in the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup

Mexico and Portugal will meet for the first time in the history of the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.

For Mexico, this will be its eighth appearance in the Round of 16; for Portugal, it will be the first time competing in this stage.

Mexico’s performance in the Round of 16

Mexico has played seven previous Round of 16 series, advancing four times and being eliminated three times:

·       November 5, 2009 — Mexico 1–1 Korea Republic (lost 3–5 on penalties) at Nigeria 2009

·       October 17, 2017 — Mexico 1–2 Iran at India 2017

·       November 21, 2023 — Mexico 0–5 Mali at Indonesia 2023

Overall, this will be the 18th Round of 16 series played by Concacaf nations in U-17 World Cup history.

Teams from the region have advanced seven times, eliminating opponents from AFC, UEFA, CONMEBOL twice each, and once defeating another Concacaf nation.

Portugal’s record in Knockout Stage series

Portugal has played six Knockout Stage series, advancing three times and being eliminated three times:

·       June 20, 1989 — Portugal 0–1 Scotland, semifinals of Scotland 1989

·       August 12, 1995 — Portugal 0–2 Ghana, quarterfinals of Ecuador 1995

·       August 24, 2003 — Portugal 2–5 Spain, quarterfinals of Finland 2003

Portugal will face a Concacaf team in a Knockout Stage series for the first time, and for just the second time overall. The only previous meeting was on August 19, 1995, when Portugal defeated Costa Rica 3–0 in Group B at Ecuador 1995.

Mexico vs UEFA opponents in Knockout Stage matches

Mexico has faced six UEFA nations in Knockout Stage matches:

·       It has advanced five times and has been eliminated just once.

The only Mexican elimination against a UEFA rival occurred on:

·       November 8, 2015 — Mexico 2–3 Belgium in the third-place match at Chile 2015.

Luis Gamboa adds his name to the history books

Luis Gamboa became the fourth Concacaf player to score a brace in a Knockout Stage match at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, and the first to achieve it outside of a semifinal.

Before his performance, the only Mexican players with knockout-stage braces at the U-17 World Cup were:

·       César Villaluz vs Netherlands — Peru 2005 (September 29)

·       Julio Gómez vs Argentina — Mexico 2011 (July 7)

·       Iván Ochoa vs Argentina — United Arab Emirates 2013 (November 5)

·       Luis Gamboa vs Argentina — Round of 32, Qatar 2025 (November 14)