- Thomas Tuchel's men will now face Norway in the last eight.
- After the restart, England thought they had extended their advantage when Nico O'Reilly struck the post.
- Mexico’s fighting spirit deserves a lot of praise.
England national football team survived a thrilling night in Mexico City to knock out co-hosts Mexico and book their tickets in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.
A brace by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane's calm penalty helped Three Lions overcame a hostile atmosphere and grab a 3-2 win. England had to deal with a second-half red card and a spirited Mexican comeback.
Thomas Tuchel's men will now face Norway in the last eight, while Mexico's dream of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in four decades came to a heartbreaking end in front of their home supporters.
Mexico's Brilliant Start
Supported by a roaring crowd at Mexico City Stadium, El Tri controlled much of the early possession and looked the brighter side, but England came back into the contest with efficiency, midway through the first half.
Bukayo Saka floated a measured cross into the box where Jude Bellingham rose highest to head England into the lead. Before Mexico had time to recover, the Real Madrid midfielder scored his second goal. Winning possession high up the pitch, Harry Kane slipped a perfectly weighted pass into Bellingham's path and the midfielder calmly slotted it home to stun the hosts with two goals in a quick succession.
Mexico national football team refused to let the occasion slip away. Julian Quinones erupted the contest before half-time, knocking an unstoppable finish beyond Jordan Pickford to send the home crowd into celebration. Moments later, Pickford produced a flamboyant save to deny Raúl Jiménez what looked like a certain equaliser.
England Hold's Their Advantage
After the restart, England thought they had extended their advantage when Nico O'Reilly struck the post. A few moments later, Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card for his reckless challenge on Jesus Gallardo, leaving the Three Lions to play more than half an hour with ten men.
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Despite the numerical disadvantage, England found another breakthrough. Anthony Gordon was brought down inside the penalty area by goalkeeper Raul Rangel, and the referee pointed to the spot. Harry Kane confidently scored the penalty to restore England's two-goal cushion and score his sixth goal of the tournament.
Mexico’s fighting spirit deserves a lot of praise. Following a VAR review, Kane was adjudged to have fouled Brian Gutierrez inside the England penalty area, handing El Tri a lifeline. Raul Jimenez converted from the spot to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finale. The Mexicans were all over the English defense, making their life difficult.
England were brought to their heals, but they never bowed down. Led by Bellingham's tireless display in midfield and disciplined defending under relentless pressure, the Three Lions held firm through the closing stages to seal the win.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his players despite the painful exit. "I can't fault my team for anything. We did everything we could and they are a great team. At this level, every mistake is punished. I only have words of gratitude for everyone's support," Aguirre said.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel hailed his side's resilience after overcoming adversity. "I'm very proud. We needed everything tonight. Every time we thought we had control, something happened against us. But this team never gave up, never lost belief. It was one more step forward," Tuchel stated.
England vs Mexico Match Highlights
England vs Mexico Match Result: England 3-2 Mexico
Goalscorers: England - Jude Bellingham (36', 38'), Harry Kane (60' pen)
Mexico - Julian Quinones (42'), Raul Jimenez (69' pen)