What Mexico learned from their draw against Ecuador after their collapse with Colombia

Mexico’s 1–1 draw against Ecuador in Guadalajara was more than just a friendly, it was a quiet test of resilience. Coming off a 4–0 humiliation against Colombia, Javier Aguirre’s side needed to show more than goals. They needed to show progress.

And while the scoreboard didn’t sparkle, the game revealed something else: Mexico is learning, adjusting, and slowly rebuilding its identity ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Mental recovery and tactical reset

Three days after the loss in Texas, Mexico looked calmer, sharper, and better structured. Aguirre rotated nearly his entire squad, keeping only César Montes, Johan Vásquez, and Erik Lira from the Colombia match. The changes paid off early.

Just three minutes in, Germán Berterame opened the scoring, his first international goal, after an intelligent assist from Erik Sánchez. The goal showed Mexico’s intent to press high and attack with vertical precision, something that was missing in the previous match.

Defensively, Mexico looked tighter, holding Ecuador to limited chances from open play. Still, one lapse changed the tone: a poor back pass from Luis Romo forced goalkeeper José Rangel into a foul on Enner Valencia, leading to Jordy Macías’ equalizer from the penalty spot.

Youth movement and selection lessons

If there’s one takeaway from October’s friendlies, it’s that Mexico’s depth is starting to evolve. Aguirre gave opportunities to Mateo Chávez, Rangel, and Berterame, while also reintroducing Hirving Lozano and Julián Quiñones in attack.

The experiment worked in parts, Mexico pressed better, transitioned faster, and avoided the collapse seen against Colombia. But finishing remains an issue: despite six shots on target, none truly tested Ecuador’s Hernán Galíndez.

The absence of key players like Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and the U-20 standouts Gilberto Mora and Elías Montiel (away at the youth World Cup) continues to limit the team’s ceiling. Yet, it also opened space for new profiles, hungrier, less predictable, and more adaptable.

What this result means for El Tri

Statistically, the draw might not move the needle. But psychologically, it resets Mexico’s direction. After conceding eight goals in their previous three matches, holding Ecuador, one of South America’s most efficient sides, to a single penalty goal felt like progress.

The bigger picture is clear: Mexico is still in construction mode, balancing experience with renewal. The team’s next tests, against Uruguay and Paraguay in November, will offer a clearer picture of Aguirre’s long-term vision.

For now, Mexico learned that order and discipline can survive even in transition. And as the countdown to 2026 continues, that lesson might be more valuable than any victory.