England overcomes Mexico 3-2 in Azteca thriller to reach World Cup quarter-finals
England survived a red card, altitude, and a hostile crowd to defeat Mexico 3-2 in the World Cup round of 16, ending the hosts' unbeaten record at the Estadio Azteca.
A historic night at the Azteca
England ended Mexico's 13-year unbeaten run at the Estadio Azteca and handed the co-hosts their first World Cup defeat at the iconic venue. The 3-2 victory in the round of 16 was played at 2,241 metres above sea level, with a thunderstorm delaying kick-off by an hour. The stadium, packed with 80,824 mostly Mexican fans, had not seen a home World Cup loss since the tournaments of 1970, 1986 and 2026 began.
It feels almost as if we won a final.
Bellingham's double and England's resilience
Jude Bellingham struck twice in two minutes, scoring in the 36th and 38th minutes to give England a 2-0 lead. Julián Quiñones pulled one back for Mexico in the 42nd minute. After the break, England defender Jarrel Quansah was sent off, leaving the team with ten men for over half an hour. Harry Kane restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, only for Raúl Jiménez to convert a penalty for Mexico moments later.
Hats off to Mexico.
Mexico's fightback and heartbreak
Mexico pressed relentlessly in the final half-hour, forcing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into a series of saves. In stoppage time, a chaotic cross nearly led to an own goal by John Stones, but the ball rolled past the post. At the final whistle, Mexican players and fans wept openly. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, a veteran of the national team, was in tears on the pitch.
- Thunderstorm pushes start back by one hour.
- Jude Bellingham scores to make it 1-0.
- Bellingham scores again, 2-0.
- Julián Quiñones pulls one back for Mexico.
- Jarrel Quansah sent off; England down to ten men.
- Harry Kane converts a penalty, 3-1.
- Raúl Jiménez scores a penalty, 3-2.
- England withstand late pressure to win 3-2.
Coaching changes and aftermath
Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre confirmed his retirement from football after the match, calling it his farewell to the Azteca. The team will now be led by Rafael Márquez, the former Barcelona defender who had been working on the coaching staff. England manager Thomas Tuchel, previously criticised for his squad selections, was praised for the tactical setup that withstood the Mexican onslaught.
What's next
England advance to a quarter-final against Norway on Saturday. Mexico exit the tournament after four straight wins in the group stage, having conceded no goals before this match. The loss also marked the end of Mexico's role as a host nation for the 2026 World Cup.
