As the World Cup Round of 32 match between Ecuador and Mexico approached in Mexico City, Ecuadorian players faced a challenging night due to disruptions caused by Mexican fans. From midnight until early morning, dozens of fans gathered outside the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe, an upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of Mexico City, using loudspeakers, horns, and motorcycles to disturb the Ecuadorian team’s rest.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation has formally complained to the tournament organisers, describing the incident as contrary to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that the World Cup should uphold. The federation’s statement highlighted that these "non-footballing actions" took place in the lead-up to the match.
The Ecuadorian team had planned a late Monday night arrival to mitigate the effects of Mexico City's high altitude of 2,200 meters (7,300 feet). However, a flight delay and a lengthy transfer extended their journey to nine hours, three hours longer than scheduled. Despite these challenges, team coach Beccacece reported that the team was doing well and was excited to face an opponent that performed strongly in the group stage.
The incident has sparked discussions about sportsmanship and fan conduct ahead of the match. Meanwhile, other World Cup developments include Morocco's victory over the Netherlands in a last-32 shootout and Paraguay's upset win against Germany.
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