Watch as Arsenal's Piero Hincapie is sent off for covering his mouth in Ecuador's defeat to Mexico in 2026 World Cup last 32

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Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie became the second player at the 2026 World Cup to be sent off for covering his mouth when talking to an opponent as he was shown a red card in Ecuador’s last-32 defeat to Mexico.

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Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron was the first to fall foul of the new rule earlier in the tournament when he was dismissed against Turkiye - but Hincapie didn’t appear to have learned from that.

With Ecuador losing 2-0 in second-half injury-time in the World Cup game at the Azteca Stadium, play was stopped as Ecuador's Kendry Paez was booked for a foul on Orbelin Pineda.

As the players were waiting for play to restart, Hincapie was involved in a heated exchange with Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez.

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The pair squared up to each other and touched heads before being separated by the referee.

It didn't initially appear that any punishment would be handed out, but there was more to follow as Gimenez alerted the referee that Hincapie had spoken to him with his hand over his mouth.

New rules ahead of the tournament state that ”any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card”.

The referee was advised by the VAR to head to the pitchside monitor and soon returned and brandished a red card for Hincapie, much to the delight of most of the fans at the Azteca Stadium.

”If you are covering your mouth you are clearly saying something you shouldn’t be saying,” said former Premier League midfielder Jobi McAnuff on ITV.

”It’s a very clear instruction and players all know about it - you can’t do it. Clearly he is saying something that he doesn’t want to be seen to be saying which is why he has covered his mouth.

”I am all for it.”

Hincapie, who recently made his loan move to Arsenal permanent, had a wry smile on his face as he made his way off the pitch, even applauding as he jogged to the touchline.

Mexico won the game 2-0 thanks to goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez.

The start of the game had been delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms in the area.

The fixture in Mexico City was due to start at 02:00 UK time, but adverse weather in the area delayed proceedings until 03:00.

Co-hosts Mexico will face England in the last 16 if Thomas Tuchel’s side beat DR Congo in the last 32 on Wednesday (17:00 UK time).

Mexico’s next game will take place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, starting at 01:00 UK time on Monday, July 6.

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