Luis Romo struck shortly after the interval to give Mexico a 1-0 victory over South Korea at the Estadio Guadalajara, sealing the hosts’ passage to the knockout stage as Group A winners with one match to spare. The finish, a close-range effort after a low cross, sent the majority of the 48,000 crowd into delirium and ensured that Javier Aguirre’s side cannot be caught by any rival in the group, thanks to the tournament’s head-to-head tiebreaker rule.

The win was Mexico’s second in as many games and confirmed a round-of-16 tie at the Estadio Azteca on 1 July. César Huerta, born in Guadalajara, made his World Cup debut as a second-half substitute, remarking afterwards that the team still had much to improve. The final group fixture against the Czech Republic on Wednesday has been reduced to a formality for the Mexicans, though Aguirre’s squad is intent on completing a perfect first phase — a feat Mexico has never achieved in the modern era.

Across the capital, the goal detonated celebrations that drew an estimated 730,000 people onto the streets. Around 400,000 gathered along Paseo de la Reforma and at the Ángel de la Independencia monument, while another 200,000 filled the Zócalo. By dawn, cleaning crews had swept up 40 tonnes of rubbish, and only five arrests were reported — all for petty theft. City officials responded by announcing seven new giant screens for the next match and a possible ‘Ley Seca’ — a temporary alcohol ban — for areas near the centre after images of drunken scuffles and fans climbing Metrobús shelters circulated on social media.

Tourism authorities said hotel occupancy had climbed to nearly 80 per cent, with 3.7 million visitors expected over the tournament’s duration. The domestic television audience for the South Korea match set a Mexican record, drawing 48.1 million viewers across all platforms, according to analysts. TelevisaUnivision alone attracted 26.4 million linear viewers and 3.5 million streaming users, underlining the sport’s unifying pull in a country grappling with social strains.

Mexico will play the Czech Republic on Wednesday, already assured of top spot and a last-16 date in the Azteca. The contest offers Aguirre a chance to refine his lineup as the nation dares to imagine a deeper run on home soil.