Mexico secured a historic 2-0 win over Ecuador to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, but celebrations at the Estadio Azteca may be overshadowed by the possibility of disciplinary action after the controversial “puto” chant was once again heard by sections of the home support. The chant, which has repeatedly led to sanctions against the Mexican Football Federation over the past decade, resurfaced during the knockout victory, despite years of awareness campaigns and previous FIFA punishments aimed at eradicating it.
Mexico’s historic victory overshadowed by a familiar controversy
Mexico booked their place in the Round of 16 with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Ecuador at the iconic Estadio Azteca, ending a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout stage win at home. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ensured Javier Aguirre’s side continued their outstanding tournament run, extending their record to four straight wins without conceding a goal. In doing so, Mexico also became the first nation since Italy in the 1990 World Cup to win their opening four games of a tournament without allowing a single goal.
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates with teammates after the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
The result also confirmed a blockbuster Round of 16 meeting with England, after Thomas Tuchel’s side came from behind to defeat DR Congo 2-1 later on Wednesday through Harry Kane’s finish. The two nations will now meet at the Estadio Azteca on July 6 for a place in the quarter-finals. However, amid the celebrations in the stadium, a recurring problem has emerged again from the stands.
The homophobic song is back despite years of campaigns
During Ecuador’s goal kicks, sections of the Mexican crowd were heard chanting the one-word slur “puto,” a chant that literally translates to “male prostitute” in Spanish and has long been considered by FIFA to be discriminatory and homophobic. The song has repeatedly landed Mexican football in disciplinary problems. It first attracted worldwide attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil before resurfacing again during the tournaments in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. The latest incident means that it has now been heard in a fourth consecutive men’s World Cup.
Fans celebrate with Mexico’s players after their team’s victory over Ecuador in the 32nd World Cup soccer match in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
According to the Daily Mail, the Mexican Football Federation has spent years trying to stamp out the chant through supporter education initiatives and repeated appeals to fans, but those efforts have largely failed to eradicate it. Ahead of the 2026 tournament, the federation launched its latest awareness campaign, “La Ola Sí, El Grito No” (“The Yes Wave, the No Chant”), with members of Mexico’s 1986 World Cup team encouraging supporters to do the Mexican wave instead of shouting the offending chant. Despite these efforts, the song was heard from Mexico’s opening match of the tournament and was resurfaced again during the victory over Ecuador.
Previous sanctions could influence FIFA’s response
Mexico’s organization has already faced significant disciplinary actions for similar incidents. Before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has given up on FIFA’s disciplinary proceedings regarding chants heard during international matches against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and the United States in 2024. According to CAS, anti-discrimination monitors documented the incidents before FIFA imposed fines totaling 140,000 Swiss francs (about $178,000 or £130,457). While the CAS confirmed the financial penalties, it canceled an additional sanction that would have required part of a stadium to be closed during a competition organized by FIFA. In its written decision, CAS acknowledged that the Mexican Football Federation had argued that it had implemented educational programs since 2015 aimed at preventing and eliminating the chant. However, the court concluded that these mitigation efforts were insufficient. “They observed that the fans’ conduct was collective and widespread, and not just a one-off occurrence,” the CAS said in its decision. The incidents were also detected by the same anti-discrimination monitoring system that operates throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada, meaning FIFA could review the latest reports before deciding whether disciplinary measures are warranted. Sports journalist Matt Slater of The Athletic argued that financial sanctions alone did not solve the problem. “On the one hand, FIFA fines don’t work. “But, on the other hand, we can’t just let some Mexican fans keep shouting an anti-gay slur every time the opposing goalkeeper approaches them. “Self-cleaning by the fans is the best way to solve this … now would be a good time to start.” Mexico now turn their attention to the field, where a high-profile last 16 clash awaits them against England, but if FIFA opens another disciplinary case following the events at the Estadio Azteca it could become an unwanted distraction as the co-hosts continue their World Cup campaign.