England survived a mighty scare to secure a 3-2 victory against Mexico to advance at the World Cup 2026 thanks to Jude Bellingham’s quick-fire double and Harry Kane’s penalty in a classic tie at the Azteca Stadium.
A gritty rearguard performance late on, after Jarell Quansah’s red card left Thomas Tuchel’s side with 10 men, was enough to advance to the quarter-finals against Erling Haaland’s Norway and eliminate the co-hosts.
A hostile atmosphere at the Azteca saw El Tri start fast, but the Three Lions settled and broke the deadlock after Bellingham’s header following tremendous work from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. And it was 2-0 within 98 seconds as Bellingham converted from close range in another slick move by the Three Lions.The hosts responded superbly though, to spark wild celebrations inside the Azteca before the break as Julian Quinonez crashed home from close-range after England failed to clear a free-kick.
England’s hopes were hit in the second half after Jarell Quansah’s out of control challenge, with referee Alireza Faghani sending him off after a VAR review. But in a gripping second half, Anthony Gordon earned a penalty for the 10 men and Raul Rangel hauled down the Barcelona winger, with Harry Kane making no mistake with a clinical spot kick to restore the two-goal lead at 3-1.
Kane then dangled a leg inside the box with VAR recommending a check and referee Faghani opting for another spot kick, which Jimenez dispatched to bring the hosts within one goal. But despite wave after wave of pressure late on, including 11 minutes of stoppage time, England survived to advance. Follow all the latest reaction from Mexico v England below:
Thomas Tuchel rants at Mexico v England referee and VAR team
“It’s just not good enough. The referees are just not good enough, fourth officials are just not good enough,” Tuchel says.
“That’s the bottom line. Three people in the VAR from South America in a match like this, if this is correct, VAR overturns… is this a clear and obvious error for the penalty? For sure not.
“They overturned a situation where he doesn’t even give a foul. Referees just not good enough, fourth officials just not good enough.”
Gordon struck by altitude impact
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a once in a lifetime atmosphere,” Anthony Gordon tells the BBC. “We came through it in the worst way possible. It was difficult. The altitude was difficult. The first 20 minutes, I felt in my chest in training yesterday – it was a bit worrying but it’s what we’re paid to do, to handle these situations. We knew it would be tough but big players, big moments.”
“We’ll trust the process. The outcome we can never control.”
Tuchel praises ‘proper mentality’
In his flash interview at the end, Tuchel says: “Very proud. We needed everything. It was super difficult. In the moments we thought we catch the momentum, we had setbacks. That is proper mentality.
“This team really mean it. When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.
“We need to take this in. This is Azteca, it’s Mexico, a crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in, now it’s full steam ahead.”
Bellingham: The win is bigger than me
“Hard to gather it all together,” he tells the BBC. “10 men, defending how we did in our box, clinical like we were in their box. In years gone by, when I was growing up, we’d have probably crumbled but this team stuck together until the last minute. That’s what this team is about.”
On the referee he adds: “It is what it is. They are human as well. No worries.”
On his goals: “This win is far bigger than me, the supporters who have come here, a difficult journey and their hard-earned money. This is for the whole country.”
On playing Norway, he says: “It’s still one game at a time. Norway will pose a completely different threat.”
And on Jordan Henderson’s celebration injury: “He’s in a bit bother but our medical team have it under control.”
Henderson injured during celebrations
Jordan Henderson has been stretchered off and has received oxygen from medics having fallen over an advertising hoarding during Wonderwall.
“Jordan fell over there, something to do with his arm,” Kane says on BBC. The captain seems calm about it but the pictures look a little more serious.
We await more updates.
Speechless Kane delivers the most iconic of interviews
Kane has completely lost his voice so is squeaking away on BBC.
“It was a crazy game. We had to fight. I can’t really talk. All the occasion, the team against us, we found a way,” he says, his voice breaking.
On the penalty concession, he added: “I thought I got the ball first. One of those where the ref gave a lot against us. In the end it don’t matter. I’m happy.
And on the England fans, he adds: “Incredible, unbelievable. I can’t even talk.”
