Mexico have qualified for the last-16 stage of the 2018 World Cup despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to Sweden in their final Group F clash on Wednesday afternoon.

Sweden's three-goal success has seen them win the section, while Mexico have gone through in second due to Germany's 2-0 defeat to South Korea, with the reigning champions incredibly exiting the competition.

Both managers named unchanged teams from their last Group F clashes, meaning that Edson Alvarez continued at right-back for Mexico, and Marcus Berg kept his spot for Sweden in the final third of the field.

Sweden had a big chance to take the lead inside the first two minutes when Berg headed an Emil Forsberg free kick back across goal towards Andreas Granqvist, but the defender just failed to make contact.

Forsberg then tested Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from a powerful free kick in the sixth minute as Sweden made the better start to the match in Yekaterinburg.

Sweden's next chance arrived in the 12th minute when Granqvist headed towards Berg inside the Mexico box, but the striker saw his overhead kick drop wide of the post.

Carlos Vela had a golden chance to send Mexico ahead in the 17th minute after he was found by Hirving Lozano inside the Sweden box, but the former Arsenal attacker curled the ball just wide of the post.

Forsberg then had a wonderful chance down the other end when he was found by Mikael Lustig, but the number 10 somehow fired over the crossbar from close range as the match continued to produce exciting moments.

Ochoa made a terrific save to tip a Berg effort over the crossbar in the 31st minute, moments after the referee had decided against awarding Sweden a penalty for a possible Hernandez handball, which was picked out by VAR.

Vela fired high and wide of the Sweden crossbar, before Berg hit the side-netting down the other end as chances continued to arrive, but the two teams entered the half-time break at 0-0, which was also the score in Germany's clash with South Korea.

Sweden made the breakthrough in the 50th minute, however, when Ludwig Augustinsson found himself free inside the Mexican box following a mis-kick from Viktor Claesson, and Ochoa could not keep out the defender's powerful effort.

Forsberg then fired over the Mexico crossbar moments later, before Augustinsson just curled wide from an advanced position as Sweden looked for a second goal.

Another opportunity arrived just before the hour when Berg met a deep cross from Lustig, but Ochoa was on hand to make the save.

Mexico were wobbling, and they conceded a penalty in the 61st minute when Hector Moreno brought Berg to the deck. Granqvist stepped forward, and the Sweden captain found the top corner with a wonderful effort to double his team's lead.

Marco Fabian had one deflected over the Sweden goal in the 67th minute, before Hernandez headed over the crossbar moments later as Mexico looked to answer back.

Sweden took a 3-0 lead in the 74th minute, however, when Alvarez turned into the back of his own net from close range.

Vela somehow headed wide of the Sweden post 10 minutes from time as Mexico stayed on nil, while Lozano had one deflected over the crossbar late on.

Mexico were simply waiting on the outcome of the Germany match, and the 2014 champions conceded twice in the latter stages to stay on four points, which allowed El Tri to join Sweden in the round of 16.

MEXICO (4-2-3-1): Ochoa; Alvarez, Salcedo, Moreno, Gallardo (Fabian 65'); Herrera, Guardado (Corona 75'); Layun (Peralta 89'), Vela, Lozano; Hernandez

SWEDEN (4-4-2): Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson; Claesson, Larsson (Svensson 57'), Ekdal (Hiljemark 80'), Forsberg; Berg (Thelin 68'), Toivonen

Written by
Matt Law