Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
In one of the best matches of the 2026 World Cup, England overcame co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a Round of 16 match at Estadio Azteca on Monday.
In an enthralling clash which started an hour later than scheduled due to inclement weather, the Three Lions edged El Tri thanks to a first-half brace from Jude Bellingham and a penalty by Harry Kane, while Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card.
After a tense opening, Mexico created the first clear chance in the 15th minute, with Roberto Alvarado crossing from the right to pick out Raul Jimenez, but his header toward the bottom corner was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
El Tri mostly dominated possession, but England silenced the home crowd with two quick goals after the half-hour mark. The first, on 36 minutes, saw Declan Rice drive forward down the right before feeding Bukayo Saka – he in turn chipped a cross to the back post to pick out the late run of Jude Bellingham, who converted with a diving header for 1-0.
Just over 90 seconds later it was 2-0, with an England break seeing Harry Kane drive a low ball across the face of goal, and Bellingham netted his second by turning home through the legs of a defender.
Mexico struck back in the 42nd minute, with a free kick forcing a poor touch from Ezri Konsa – the ball fell perfectly to Julian Quinones, who volleyed home emphatically for 1-2.
The co-hosts then had great chances to get back on level terms, with Jimenez driving a shot just wide and seeing another head saved by Pickford, while Bellingham made a crucial clearance to deny Cesar Montes a tap-in.
The drama continued early in the second half, with England coming close to a third goal when Nico O’Reilly hit a low drive that rebounded off the post, before being reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute when Jarell Quansah was shown a red card – after a VAR review – for a studs-up challenge.
Yet the Three Lions soon earned a penalty when a bold run from Anthony Gordon resulted in a clumsy challenge from goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Kane stepped up to the spot and crashed the ball into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead on the hour mark.
The twists in this remarkable match kept coming, with El Tri awarded a penalty of their own midway through the second half for a foul from Kane on substitute Brian Gutierrez (after VAR review). Jimenez struck home from 12 yards to make it 2-3 in the 69th minute.
The final quarter of the match – plus 11 minutes of injury time – saw England pinned back by wave after wave of Mexico attacks, but the defence stood firm to secure a famous victory that will live long in the memory.
England will face Norway in the third quarterfinal, set for the Miami Stadium on Saturday 11 July (23:00 CAT).
Mexico (1) 2 (J. Quinones 42’, R. Jimenez 69’ pen)
England (2) 3 (J. Bellingham 36’ 38’, H. Kane 60’ pen)
Mexico: R. Rangel, J. Sanchez (A. Fidalgo 79’), C. Montes (E. Alvarez 46’), J. Vasquez, J. Gallardo, G. Mora (S. Gimenez 61’), E. Lira, L. Romo (B. Gutierrez 61’), R. Alvarado, J. Quinones (G. Martinez 81’), R. Jimenez
England: J. Pickford, J. Quansah, E. Konsa, M. Guehi, N. O’Reilly (D. Spence 75’), E. Anderson (D. Burn 75’), D. Rice, B. Saka (J. Stones 57’), J. Bellingham, A. Gordon, H. Kane (M. Rogers 90’)
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