England survive Mexico siege at the Azteca to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Jude Bellingham's first-half double and a Harry Kane penalty sent England into the last eight despite a red card and relentless Mexican pressure.
Match summary
England advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a match delayed by an hour because of a storm and played at ferocious intensity. Thomas Tuchel's side took a two-goal lead through Jude Bellingham, conceded once before half-time, then played more than half an hour with ten men after Jarell Quansah's dismissal. Mexico dominated possession and created chance after chance but could not force extra time, leaving the home crowd heartbroken.
Bellingham's quickfire double
Mexico had started the brighter, with Raúl Jiménez forcing a superb low save from Jordan Pickford and the midfield trio of Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora and Luis Romo disrupting England's rhythm. The game turned in two minutes shortly before the break. Bukayo Saka crossed for Bellingham to head the opener on 36 minutes, and almost immediately Harry Kane centred for the Real Madrid midfielder to tap in a second. The double strike punished rare defensive lapses from a Mexican back line that had not conceded in the group stage.
Mexico's fightback and red card
Julián Quiñones pulled one back in the 42nd minute, and the second half became a siege. Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute, yet England extended their lead when Kane converted a penalty six minutes later. Mexico responded again through a Jiménez penalty in the 69th minute, but Pickford and a reshuffled defence held firm. Javier Aguirre's team threw everything forward, but England clung on to rewrite their painful history at the Azteca.
- Storm forces one-hour delay at the Estadio Azteca.
- Bellingham heads in Saka's cross to make it 0-1.
- Bellingham scores again from Kane's centre, 0-2.
- Quiñones pulls one back for Mexico, 1-2.
- Quansah sent off; England down to ten men.
- Kane converts a penalty, 1-3.
- Jiménez scores from the spot, 2-3.
Historical echoes
The Azteca had haunted England since Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal eliminated them in the 1986 quarter-finals. Forty years on, Tuchel's men left the same stadium victorious. The win sets up a quarter-final against Norway, who stunned Brazil earlier on Sunday.
What's next
England will face Norway in the last eight, while Mexico exit their home tournament with heads held high after pushing one of the pre-tournament favourites to the limit.
