England edge hosts Mexico 3-2 in Azteca thriller to reach World Cup quarter-finals
The Mt Kenya Times 
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Jude Bellingham’s rapid first-half double sends the Three Lions through despite a red card and a battling Mexican fightback
By Norman Mwale
England survived a hostile Azteca crowd and more than half an hour with 10 men to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 on Sunday night, booking their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.
The Round of 16 tie at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, but once it got under way, England settled quickly and produced a stunning burst either side of the half-hour mark.
Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, meeting a Bukayo Saka cross with a diving header. Just 98 seconds later he doubled the lead, finishing a swift one-two with Harry Kane to make it 2-0. It was the fastest brace by an England player in World Cup history, and the same stadium where Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” had ended England’s 1986 campaign.
Mexico hit back before the break. Julián Quiñones pounced on a loose ball inside the box from a corner and drilled it into the net in the 42nd minute to make it 2-1 and lift the home crowd.
The game turned again just after the hour when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review, for a high, studs-up challenge on Jesús Gallardo. England were left to defend with 10 men for the rest of the match.
They restored their two-goal cushion soon after. In the 60th minute, Harry Kane converted from the spot after goalkeeper Raúl Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon in the area.
Mexico were handed a route back into the game in the 69th minute, when VAR ruled that Kane had fouled Brian Gutiérrez inside the box. Raúl Jiménez stepped up and scored to make it 3-2. Mexico pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, but England’s defence held firm.
England manager Thomas Tuchel praised his side’s resolve afterwards. “I am just proud of the mentality and the attitude… we did it with pure mentality and heart,” he said, adding that his players had found a way to win when it mattered most.
Bellingham, named Player of the Match for the third time this tournament, admitted the game had been hard to process. “It was a chaotic game,” he said, praising Mexico’s quality and crediting his team’s character for seeing it through.
For Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, it was a painful farewell to the Azteca. “To dream and then fall like this hurts deeply, but the players should leave with their heads held high,” he said, backing assistant Rafael Márquez to take over and build on the team’s progress.
Mexico’s defeat ended the co-hosts’ deepest World Cup run since they last hosted the tournament in 1986. It was only the third competitive loss for Mexico at the Azteca since the stadium opened in 1966.
The result sets up a quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday, 11 July.
Final score: Mexico 2-3 England Scorers: Mexico — Quiñones 42′; England — Bellingham 36′, 38′, Kane 60′ (pen) Penalty scored: Jiménez 69′ (pen), Mexico Venue: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium), Mexico City Attendance: 80,824 Red card: Quansah 54′
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