Mexico’s Most Controversial World Cup Moment Still Hurts

It's been 4,383 days.

That's how long El Tri fans have been carrying around one of the most painful phrases in World Cup history: No Era Penal!

It was June 29, 2014. A hot summer day in Brazil and an equally hot one here in El Paso. Mexico was leading the Netherlands in the Round of 16, and for a while, it felt like El Tri was finally going to break through.

Then came one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history.

Why Mexico Fans Still Say "No Era Penal"

On June 29, 2014, Giovani Dos Santos gave Mexico the lead against the Netherlands, and El Tri fans everywhere started believing.

But the Dutch equalized late in the second half, and in stoppage time, Arjen Robben went down inside the penalty box. The referee awarded a penalty kick, the Netherlands converted, and Mexico's World Cup ended in heartbreaking fashion.

To this day, Mexican soccer fans insist the same thing: No era penal!

The Mexico vs. Netherlands Match That Still Hurts

That controversial call also kept alive "La Maldición del Quinto Partido," Mexico's infamous curse of never getting past the Round of 16.

Four years later, fans thought 2018 would finally be different, especially since the Netherlands didn't even qualify for the World Cup. Instead, Brazil eliminated El Tri 2-0, and the curse lived on.

Then came 2022, when Mexico didn't even reach the Round of 16, crashing out in the group stage for the first time since 1978.

Can Mexico Finally Move On in the 2026 World Cup?

Now, El Tri has another opportunity. Mexico advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will face Ecuador in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, June 30.

Whether Mexico finally makes a deep run or not, one thing is certain: every June 29, fans remember where they were when "No Era Penal" became part of Mexican soccer history.