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They said the altitude would get them. They said the Azteca would swallow them whole. Instead, England produced one of the great nights of this World Cup 2026, surviving an hour-long weather delay, a red card and more than half an hour with ten men to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in Mexico City and march into the quarter-finals.
A raucous crowd of more than 80,000 turned the famous old stadium into a cauldron, but Thomas Tuchel's side kept their heads when it mattered. It is a result that ranks among the most impressive in the country's recent history — and it books a last-eight showdown with Norway.
Bellingham silences the Azteca
Mexico had not conceded a single goal at the tournament before kick-off, and for half an hour their defence held firm against the wall of noise. Then Jude Bellingham took over. In the 36th minute, Bukayo Saka burst clear on the right and dinked a delicious ball to the far post, where Bellingham arrived to head home unmarked: 0-1.
Just two minutes later, it was 0-2. Bellingham exchanged passes with Harry Kane and finished from close range, wheeling away to his trademark arms-wide celebration as the travelling England fans finally made themselves heard. For a moment, it looked like a knockout blow.
Mexico roar back
It wasn't. In the 42nd minute, a scrambled set-piece dropped invitingly for Julián Quiñones, who lashed a side-volley past Jordan Pickford to halve the deficit and send the Azteca into raptures once more. Mexico poured forward before the break, and only a superb last-ditch clearance from Bellingham — hooking a César Montes header off the line — kept England in front at half-time.
England responded well after the restart and should have made it 3-1 when Nico O'Reilly rattled the base of the post with a low drive from distance.
Red card and penalty drama
Then the game turned on its head. In the 54th minute, Jarell Quansah slid in on Jesús Gallardo and caught him high; the referee waved play on, but after a VAR review he had no choice but to show a straight red. Down to ten men, England looked in trouble.
Instead, they struck immediately. Anthony Gordon chased a Kane knock-down and was brought down by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, and Kane stepped up to hammer the penalty home for 3-1. The captain was involved at the other end soon after, too — this time on the wrong side of it, penalised by VAR for a foul on Brian Gutiérrez. Raúl Jiménez converted the spot-kick to make it 3-2 and set up a nerve-shredding finale.
Backs to the wall
For the final 20 minutes and beyond, England defended for their lives. Disciplined, organised and clever in reading Mexico's attacks, the ten men repelled everything the co-hosts threw at them until the whistle sparked wild celebrations. It is the third consecutive World Cup at which England have reached the quarter-finals — but few will have felt as hard-earned as this one, a victory that will do wonders for the team's belief and togetherness.
Next up: Norway in the quarter-finals
The reward is a mouth-watering tie against Norway, who stunned Brazil in the Round of 16 to keep their fairytale run alive. The match takes place on Saturday 11 July in Miami Gardens, and it pits England against the unstoppable Erling Haaland — one of the most feared strikers on the planet and the man tasked with ending England's dream.
England are still chasing a second World Cup title, and a first since 1966. On this evidence — and with the kind of spirit shown at the Azteca — the belief that "it's coming home" has rarely felt stronger.
England vs Norway — World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final tickets
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