Bellingham praises Mexico after England’s World Cup win at Azteca

Jude Bellingham turned England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca into a display of control as well as quality, scoring twice in two minutes and then using the mixed zone to praise a team that left World Cup 2026 having pushed England to the edge. The Real Madrid midfielder scored in the 36th and 38th minutes, helping England survive a tense round-of-16 night in which Mexico played with 10 men after Jarell Quansah’s dismissal early in the second half.

Bellingham turned away from the match’s most combustible theme and gave Mexico the credit he thought it deserved. He called Mexico “un equipo muy fuerte” and said they “juegan con mucho corazón,” describing the Azteca as a historic stadium and calling it a pleasure to play there. He also said the final days in Mexico had been incredible, a strikingly measured response from the player who had just delivered the decisive spell in an elimination match played at full intensity.

The game had swung quickly. Mexico had its best stretches while pressing England, but Bellingham’s burst changed the tone before halftime. His two goals in such a short span silenced the crowd at the Azteca and gave England a cushion it would need once the match grew more chaotic after the break. Quansah’s red card early in the second half left Javier Aguirre’s side chasing the game from a deficit and a numerical disadvantage.

Bellingham’s remarks also pointed beyond the result itself. He said England had to adjust to the altitude of Mexico City and then prepare for a different challenge in Miami, where heat would demand another tactical and physical shift. That contrast mattered as much as the scoreline: the same player who punished Mexico on the field made sure the public message stayed diplomatic, treating the stadium, the setting and the opponent with respect after one of the tournament’s most emotionally charged nights.