England Survive a Red Card and the Azteca to Beat Mexico 3-2 and Reach the Quarterfinals

England reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup with a nerve-shredding 3-2 win over host nation Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, surviving more than half an hour with 10 men to hand El Tri its first-ever loss in a World Cup match on home soil.

Jude Bellingham was the difference in a frantic first half, scoring twice in the span of 98 seconds to put England 2-0 up. His first came in the 36th minute and his second in the 38th, stunning a roaring Azteca crowd. Julian Quinones pulled one back for Mexico just before the break, in the 43rd minute, to keep the hosts alive at 2-1 at halftime.

The match turned on a moment of drama early in the second half. In the 54th minute, England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off after a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on Jesus Gallardo, leaving Gareth Southgate's side to defend a one-goal lead a man down. Instead of retreating, England pushed forward: Harry Kane restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot in the 60th minute after Anthony Gordon was fouled by Mexico goalkeeper Tala Rangel. It was Kane's sixth goal of the tournament, keeping him in the race for the Golden Boot.

Mexico refused to fold. Raul Jimenez converted a penalty of his own in the 69th minute, awarded after a foul by Kane inside the box, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and setting up a tense final 20 minutes. Wave after wave of Mexican pressure crashed against a massed England defense, but the 10 men held firm through stoppage time to seal the result.

The victory carried heavy historical weight. Mexico had never before lost a World Cup game at the Azteca, the cathedral of North American soccer, and the defeat ended the host's tournament after four matches. For England, the win exorcised a ghost dating to 1986, when the team was knocked out of the World Cup quarterfinals at the same stadium. Southgate's side now advances to face Norway — and a resurgent Erling Haaland — in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Miami, with a place in the semifinals on the line.