Mexico to battle hosts Chile in Round of 16 at FIFA U-20 World Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 continues on Tuesday, with Concacaf nation Mexico meeting hosts Chile in the Round of 16 at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso, Chile.

Mexico went 1-2-0 in the Group Stage to place second in Group C. Gilberto Mora has been the one of the tournament’s standout players with three goals in two matches.

Mora struck the match-winning goal in the team’s recent victory over Morocco, striking with confidence and composure from the penalty spot, and delivered a brace as Mexico tied 2-2 with Spain in its second match. He also delivered an assist in the team’s opening match, a 2-2 draw with Brazil, on Diego Ochoa’s match-tying goal.

The 16-year-old Mora continues a remarkable year after helping Mexico’s senior national team to a record-extending 10th Concacaf Gold Cup. Ochoa helped Mexico win the 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship, striking the match-winning goal in the Final and earning a nod in the tournament’s Best XI.

Alexéi Domínguez also scored for Mexico in the opening bout and assisted Mora in the second game. Domínguez continues his rise after helping CF Pachuca to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final, and a participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Chile finished second in Group A with a 1-0-2 record. Lautaro Millán, Ian Garguez, and Javier Cárcamo have scored for La Roja.

Mexico Set for Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup

Mexico is set to play in the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the seventh time in its history. The team has advanced past this stage on four occasions: defeating Argentina in Nigeria 1999, Congo in Canada 2007, Cameroon in Colombia 2011, and Senegal in Korea Republic 2017.

This will mark just the second time that Mexico faces a South American team in the Round of 16. The first came on April 15, 1999, when El Tricolor earned a memorable 4-1 win over Argentina in Puerto Harcourt, Nigeria. Mexico’s goals were scored by Daniel Osorno, Eduardo Rodríguez, Juan Pablo “Chatanas” Rodríguez, and Luis “Gonzo” González, after Luciano “Huesito” Galletti opened the scoring for Argentina. Jesús del Muro coached Mexico, while José Néstor Pékerman managed the Albiceleste.

Mexico has been eliminated twice at this stage: a 1-0 loss to France in Malaysia 1997 (goal by Peter Luccin on June 25 in Kuching), and a 2-1 defeat to Spain in Turkey 2013, with Spanish goals from Derik Osede and Jesé Rodríguez, while Arturo Alfonso González scored for Mexico.

For Chile, this will be the first time facing a Concacaf team in a knockout round. Their only three previous meetings with Concacaf nations came during group stages: a 4-1 loss to the United States in Argentina 2001, a 7-0 win over Honduras in the Netherlands 2005, and a 3-0 victory against Canada in Canada 2007.

Mexico becomes just the second Concacaf nation to face the host country in the Round of 16 at a FIFA U-20 World Cup. The only prior instance was Costa Rica, who defeated Egypt 2-0 in 2009 and lost 3-2 to Colombia in 2011.

This will also mark the sixth Concacaf vs. Conmebol matchup in the Round of 16 at a U-20 World Cup. Concacaf teams have advanced on three occasions (Mexico vs. Argentina in 1999, USA vs. Uruguay in 2007, and USA vs. Colombia in 2015), while South American teams progressed twice (Uruguay vs. USA in 1997 and Colombia vs. Costa Rica in 2011).