England beat Mexico 3-2 in World Cup thriller at Estadio Azteca

England survived a frantic late spell to beat Mexico 3-2 in the World Cup Round of 16 at Estadio Azteca on July 5, 2026, advancing to a quarter-final against Norway. Jude Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds in the first half, Harry Kane converted a penalty, and England held on after Jarell Quansah was sent off and Mexico pressed hard in stoppage time.

The match began an hour late because of severe weather and storm risk, adding another layer of tension to a night already heavy with history. Estadio Azteca, also known as Mexico City Stadium, sits at altitude, a factor that had been widely noted before kickoff and became part of the physical test for both sides. England returned to Mexico City for the first time in 40 years, back at the same ground where they lost 2-1 to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.

For much of the first half, the game moved in quick emotional swings that were mirrored by supporters on both sides of the Atlantic. England fans in the United Kingdom had barely finished reacting to Bellingham’s opener when he struck again, while Mexico City answered with a surge of noise that followed every response from the hosts. Julián Quiñones cut the deficit before halftime, and Raúl Jiménez later converted from the spot to keep Mexico alive after Kane’s penalty had restored England’s two-goal cushion.

Mexico’s response carried extra weight because the hosts came in unbeaten at the 2026 World Cup, having won all four of their previous matches. That run gave the crowd reason to believe even after England’s fast start, and the stadium’s mood shifted again after Quansah’s red card left England exposed to a sustained final push.

England’s win also revived memories of 1986, when Diego Maradona’s "Hand of God" goal and Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England became part of World Cup folklore, with Peter Shilton among those left to carry the aftermath. Four decades later, England left Mexico City with a different result and the same venue still able to produce one of the tournament’s most charged nights.