England advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, overcoming a second-half red card to eliminate the co-hosts in a thrilling Round of 16 contest.
The Three Lions stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches and booked a last-eight showdown with Norway after surviving a late Mexican surge.
Following a one-hour delay to kick-off, Mexico started brightly and almost took the lead within minutes. Raúl Jiménez met a cross with a diving header from close range, but Jordan Pickford reacted superbly to keep the scores level.
England gradually took control and struck twice in quick succession before half-time. Bukayo Saka’s inviting cross was met by Jude Bellingham, who headed home in the 36th minute to put England in front.
Just two minutes later, Bellingham grabbed his second of the match, finishing Harry Kane’s pass to make it 2-0 and score his fourth goal of the tournament.
Mexico responded before the interval when Julián Quiñones fired past Pickford to halve the deficit, matching his country’s all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring record. The hosts nearly found an equaliser before the break, but Pickford denied Jiménez again with another crucial save.
England suffered a major setback early in the second half after Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review that upgraded his challenge to a straight red card.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Thomas Tuchel’s side regained a two-goal advantage on the hour mark. Kane confidently converted from the penalty spot after Anthony Gordon was brought down by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel.
Mexico kept pushing and were awarded a penalty of their own after VAR ruled Kane had committed a foul inside the box. Jiménez converted from the spot to reduce the deficit to 3-2 and set up a tense finale.
The co-hosts pressed relentlessly in the closing stages, but England held firm to secure the victory and progress to the quarter-finals.
England will now take on Norway on Saturday as they continue their bid for a first World Cup title since 1966, while Mexico’s 12-match unbeaten run came to an end as their wait for a first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 1986 continues.
