Mexico, Cuba in search of Round of 16 in FIFA U-20 World Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 continues on Saturday, with Concacaf nations Cuba and Mexico seeking to advance to the Knockout Round.

Mexico enters its final Group Stage match as second place in Group C with 0-2-0 record. Cuba enters as third place in Group D with a 0-1-1 record.

Mexico vs. Morocco

Mexico meets Morocco in Group C at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso, Chile.

Gilberto Mora delivered a brace as Mexico tied 2-2 with Spain in its second match. Mora also delivered an assist in the team’s opening match, a 2-2 draw with Brazil, on Diego Ochoa’s match-tying goal.

Alexéi Domínguez also scored for Mexico in the opening bout and assisted Mora in the second game.

Morocco lead the group after victories over Spain and Brazil. A victory would secure a place for Mexico in the Knockout Stage as one of the group’s top two.

Mexico vs. Morocco

This will be the first-ever meeting between Mexico and Morocco in FIFA U-20 World Cup history.

However, it will mark Mexico’s 15th encounter against an African opponent in the competition, where the “Aztecs” hold a record of 5 wins, 6 draws and 3 defeats (GF-26, GA- 14).

·       June 27, 1977 – Tunisia 1977, MD1 Group A

At the Olympique El Menzah Stadium in Tunis, Mexico debuted against host nation Tunisia with a historic 6-0 victory — their largest ever win in the tournament’s history.

The goals came from Agustín Manzo (46’, 47’), Luis Plascencia (48’, 69’, 72’) and

Fernando Garduño (56’).

·       September 1, 1985 – Soviet Union 1985, Quarterfinals

Mexico suffered its first defeat against an African side, falling 1-2 to Nigeria at the Lenin Stadium in Moscow.

The Nigerian goals were scored by Augustine Igbinabaro (33’) and Monday Odiaka (35’), while Víctor Medina (50’) netted for Mexico.

·       June 1, 2017 – South Korea 2017, Round of 16

At the Incheon Stadium in Incheon, Mexico defeated Senegal 1-0 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

The decisive goal was scored by Ronaldo Cisneros (89’).

It will also be Mexico’s 10th group stage match against an African opponent in the competition, with a record of 3 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats (GF-20, GA-11).

Historical record – Mexico vs. African teams (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

·       13 matches played

·       5 wins for Mexico (26 goals scored)

·       5 draws

·       3 wins for African teams (14 goals scored)

Cuba vs. Australia

Cuba faces Australia in Group D at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile.

Michael Camejo converted two penalties against Italy to rescue a point for Cuba in the nation’s second match of the Group Stage. Karel Pérez scored in the opening match, when Cuba opened with a 3-1 loss to Argentina.

Australia is last place in the group with two defeats. A victory is necessary for Cuba’s Round of 16 hopes, whether as a top two side or one of the four best third place teams.

Head to Head

This will be the first-ever meeting between Australia and Cuba in FIFA U-20 World Cup history.

For Cuba, it will also mark their first match against an Oceanian opponent in the tournament.

Australia, on the other hand, has faced Concacaf opposition on multiple occasions, with a record of 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats (GF-11, GA-13) across 10 matches. The Australians are currently on a streak of three consecutive losses against Central American sides:

·       Egypt 2009: lost 0-3 to Costa Rica.

·       Colombia 2011: lost 2-3 to Costa Rica.

·       Turkey 2013: lost 1-2 to El Salvador.

Australia’s most recent victory against a Concacaf team came in United Arab Emirates 2003, defeating Canada 2-1 in MD2 of Group C on December 1, 2003 at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

Goals for Australia were scored by Alex Brosque (12’) and Matt McKay (54’), while Iain Hume (33’) scored for Canada.

As for Caribbean opposition, there is just one precedent: a 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Portugal 1991, in MD1 of Group C on June 15, 1991, at the Primeiro de Maio Stadium in Braga.

The Australian goals came from Paul Okon (52’) and David Seal (76’).