World Cup 2026: How Ecuador can advance if its match against Mexico is tied

The World Cup 2026's knockout stage, including the Round of 16, mandates a winner for each match, eliminating the possibility of a draw. Ecuador is set to face Mexico, and any tie will be decided by two 15-minute extra time periods, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. Unlike the group stage, where draws result in one point for each team, the elimination rounds demand a definitive outcome. This tournament structure has already seen several close contests; out of six Round of 16 matches played so far, two required extra time and penalties. Germany and Paraguay drew 1-1 before Paraguay won the shootout 4-3, and the Netherlands and Morocco also drew and proceeded to penalties, with the Dutch winning 3-2. Ecuador's last experience with a match extending beyond 90 minutes was during the 2024 Copa América quarterfinals against Argentina, where they drew 1-1 in regulation and lost the subsequent penalty shootout 4-2, as that tournament's format, unlike the World Cup, does not feature extra time except in the final.