After 4-0 bashing by Colombia, Mexico held to 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Guadalajara to close October international window

Mexico showed better attitude and clear improvement against Ecuador following the painful 4-0 loss to Colombia over the weekend. El Tri started strong at Estadio Akron, taking the lead in the third minute through Germán Berterame, who capitalized on a defensive mistake by Ecuador.

However, the advantage didn’t last long - Raúl Rangel conceded a penalty that Jordy Alcívar converted in the 20th minute to make it 1-1, a score that would remain until the final whistle.

The match offered few real chances afterward, though Mexico looked more organized and disciplined. They even came close to winning it late, but the team still left the field to boos from fans hoping to see a victory - and a more convincing version of a squad that will host a World Cup for the third time next year.

Looking ahead, Javier Aguirre is expected to have a clearer picture of his potential World Cup lineup when Mexico faces Uruguay and Paraguay in November.

In September’s international window, Germán Berterame seemed to have run out of chances with Aguirre ahead of the World Cup, following underwhelming performances against Japan and South Korea. 

However, the “Vasco” gave him another shot in October, and Berterame responded.

The Monterrey striker opened the scoring early against Ecuador, capitalizing on a defensive mistake to net his first goal for El Tri in five appearances. The goal comes as a much-needed boost for Berterame, who now has renewed hope of remaining in contention for future call-ups - and perhaps even making the World Cup roster.

Another standout performer was Julián Quiñones, who wasn’t part of the September squad but impressed with his energy and involvement. The América forward outshined both Hirving Lozano and César Huerta, putting himself back into the mix as Aguirre continues to evaluate his attacking options.

Luis Ángel Malagón clearly struggled in this window. The Club América goalkeeper conceded all four goals in the heavy defeat to Colombia, and while he didn’t feature on Tuesday, his stock took a hit.

Raúl Rangel, who started against Ecuador, didn’t help the goalkeeping situation - his foul inside the box led to the penalty that sealed the 1-1 draw. It’s difficult to say who came out worse from this FIFA window, but what’s certain is that Aguirre won’t be pleased with either of his goalkeepers - both supposedly locked for the final World Cup roster.

Also underperforming was César Huerta. The Anderlecht winger came on as a substitute and failed to make an impact. Meanwhile, César Montes and Erik Lira also struggled to find their rhythm, rounding off a disappointing night for several El Tri players hoping to secure their spot ahead of 2026.

Meanwhile, Ramón Juárez, Carlos Acevedo, and Kevin Álvarez didn’t see any minutes in this international window.