Omanghana
England booked their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 encounter at the Estadio Azteca.
In a match filled with goals, penalties, a red card, and relentless late pressure, the Three Lions showed resilience to overcome a spirited Mexican side in front of more than 80,000 passionate home supporters.
The victory sends England into the last eight, where they will face Norway in a highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown.
Bellingham’s Quickfire Double Stuns Mexico
England took control of the contest late in the first half thanks to a remarkable burst from Jude Bellingham.
The midfielder opened the scoring in the 36th minute before striking again just 98 seconds later to hand England a commanding 2-0 lead and silence the home crowd.
Mexico responded before the break through winger Julián Quiñones, who capitalized on a defensive lapse from a set-piece in the 42nd minute to reduce the deficit and keep the hosts firmly in the contest heading into halftime.
Red Card Changes the Match
The game took another dramatic turn in the 54th minute when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on Jesús Gallardo.
Reduced to 10 men, England faced the difficult task of protecting their lead for the remainder of the match.
However, despite being a player down, Thomas Tuchel’s side extended their advantage six minutes later after being awarded a penalty.
Captain Harry Kane stepped up and calmly converted from the spot in the 60th minute to restore England’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Mexico Fight Back
The hosts refused to surrender and quickly found a way back into the match.
Veteran striker Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty in the 69th minute after Mexico were awarded a spot kick, cutting England’s lead to 3-2 and setting up a tense finale.
Mexico poured forward in search of an equalizer, creating wave after wave of attacks as England defended desperately with 10 players.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced several important saves while England’s defense withstood intense pressure throughout 11 minutes of added time to preserve the narrow victory.
England Through to the Quarterfinals
The hard-fought win secures England a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Three Lions will now travel to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where they are set to face Norway on Saturday, July 11.
With Erling Haaland in sensational form after inspiring Norway’s historic victory over Brazil, England’s clash with the Scandinavian side promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament’s last eight.
Source: Omanghana
