Mexico secured a landmark 2-0 victory over Ecuador to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, but celebrations at the Estadio Azteca could be overshadowed by the possibility of disciplinary action after the controversial “puto” chant was once again heard from sections of the home support. The song, 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 sanctions aimed at eradicating it.
Mexico’s historic victory was overshadowed by familiar controversy
Mexico booked their place in the Round of 16 with an emphatic 2-0 win over Ecuador at the iconic Estadio Azteca, ending a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout stage victory on home soil. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ensured that Javier Aguirre’s side continued their remarkable tournament run, extending their record to four consecutive victories without conceding a goal. In doing so, Mexico also became the first country since Italy in the 1990 World Cup to win their opening four games in a tournament without conceding a single goal.
Julian Quinones (16) of Mexico celebrates with his 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 team came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 later on Wednesday thanks to Harry Kane’s late brace. The two countries will now compete at the Estadio Azteca on July 6 for a place in the quarter-finals. However, amid the celebrations inside the stadium, a recurring issue once again emerged from the stands.
The homophobic chant is back despite years of campaigning
During Ecuador goalkeeper goal kicks, sections of the Mexican crowd were heard chanting the slur word “puto”, a chant that literally translates to “man whore” in Spanish and has long been considered by FIFA to be discriminatory and homophobic. The chant has repeatedly put Mexican football in disciplinary trouble. It first gained worldwide attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil before returning again during the tournaments in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. The latest incident means it has been heard at the fourth consecutive men’s World Cup.
Fans celebrate with Mexican players after their team’s victory over Ecuador in a World Cup round of 32 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 eradicate 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 Wave Yes, The Chant No”), which features members of Mexico’s 1986 World Cup squad encouraging supporters to do the Mexican wave instead of shouting the offensive chant. Despite those efforts, the song has reportedly been heard since Mexico’s first game in the tournament and resurfaced during the win over Ecuador.
Previous sanctions may influence FIFA’s response
Mexico’s governing body has already faced significant disciplinary action over similar incidents. Before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on FIFA disciplinary proceedings related to 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 a fine of up to 140,000 Swiss francs (approximately $178,000 or £130,457). While CAS supports financial penalties, it ignores an additional penalty that would require a part of a stadium to be closed during a competition organized by FIFA. In its written decision, the CAS acknowledged that the Mexican Football Federation argued that it had implemented educational programs since 2015 aimed at preventing and eliminating the song. However, the court concluded that mitigation efforts were insufficient. “They observed that the behavior of the fans was collective and widespread, and not just a single incident,” CAS said in its decision. The incidents were also detected by the same anti-discrimination monitoring system that will operate throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada, meaning FIFA can now review the latest reports before deciding whether disciplinary measures are necessary. Sports journalist Matt Slater of The Athletic argues that financial penalties alone do not solve the problem. “On the one hand, FIFA fines don’t work. “But, on the other hand, we can’t allow some Mexican fans to keep shouting an anti-gay slur every time the oppo goalie boots it. “Self-policing by fans is the best way to fix this … now is a good time to start.” Mexico now turn their attention to the pitch, where a high-profile Round of 16 clash against England awaits, but if FIFA opens another disciplinary case following the events at the Estadio Azteca it could be an unwelcome distraction as the co-hosts continue their World Cup campaign.