It was supposed to be about altitude, but England’s World Cup run is onto the quarterfinals thanks to brave defending with 10 men in a 3-2 win over Mexico at Azteca on Sunday.
Jude Bellingham had two goals, Harry Kane had a goal and an assist, and the Three Lions overcame Jarell Quansah’s VAR-awarded red card to set up a meeting with Norway.
WATCH — Mexico v England, en Espanol (full match replay)
Mexico had yet to lose or concede a goal in dominating their group and came out strong only to go down 2-0 on a pair of Bellingham goals in three minutes.
Julian Quinones made it 2-1 before halftime and Mexico looked set to surge back into control as Quansah’s studs-up challenge went over the ball and into the ankle of Jesus Gallardo for a 54th minute red card.
Harry Kane then converted an Anthony Gordon-won penalty and Mexico’s only answer was a Raul Jimenez penalty — also awarded by VAR — as El Tri resorted to desperation crosses and England sub Dan Burn, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and Co. managed to deal with all of them.
England answer questions about heart but are they one-dimensional?
There can be doubting the Three Lions’ resolve after they held up with 10 men over 36 minutes and another 11 of added time. Jordan Pickford was so active in the box, Dan Burn effective as a sub, and Jude Bellingham was as good as he’s ever been for any of his teams. Yet it’s impossible to overlook another two goals conceded, a silly red card, and a first half that was largely dominated by Mexico. Yes, El Tri were tournament hosts and ranked 10th in the world by FIFA. And Croatia are no slouches at 13th. But aren’t tournament favorites supposed to look like the superior team more often than not in these games? Kane has been wonderful this tournament and both Bukayo Saka and Bellingham were excellent on Sunday but beyond that there are huge questions as this team looks to slow down Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, and the rest of Norway’s vikings.
Mexico were better at 11v11 than 11v10
Javier Aguirre will watch this game back and wonder what he could’ve said to his men to get them to do something different once they went up a man. Mexico constantly swung the ball from back to back and used the same build-up patterns, firing in crosses to a straight line of attackers that allowed England to mark those attackers and clear the way for Pickford to punch the ball clear of danger. That’s if the crosses found their mark in the first place. Mexico had 63% possession and out-attempted England 7-3 in the first half. Yet outside of Raul Jimenez’s eight shots and Julian Quinones’ three, there wasn’t a lot to like about El Tri. Jimenez’s 12 touches in the box were just under one-third of Mexico’s total output there. Pickford only had to make three saves and faces just 1.85 xGOT. The game was there for them.
Mexico vs England final score: 2-3
Jude Bellingham 36', 38'; Julian Quinones 42', Harry Kane pen 60', Raul Jimenez pen 69'
Red card: Jarell Quansah 54'
An almost mythical performance from the 10-man Three Lions.
Jude Bellingham was outstanding. Jordan Pickford, too.
And Mexico helped it all along by refusing to vary their entrances, only looking for huge crosses despite England standing their backs in one long row.
Morgan Rogers replaces Kane in the 90th minute.
There will be 11 minutes of added time!
Djed Spence and Dan Burn replaced Nico O’Reilly and Elliot Anderson a few minutes ago, and now Mexico make a move.
It’s Alvaro Fidalgo for Jorge Sanchez in the 79th minute.
Grandstand finish coming your way.
Harry Kane concedes a penalty, awarded via VAR, and Raul Jimenez finally beats Pickford.
With authority.
England’s lead is back to two, and it comes moments after Tuchel took off Saka for John Stones.
What’s the keeper doing?
Raul Rangel takes down Anthony Gordon and it’s a penalty.
The ball came off Harry Kane’s arm but that’s not going to change anything.
England are down to 10 men as Jarell Quansah goes studs up into the leg of Jesus Gallardo.
It wasn’t a foul during the run of play but VAR sends Alireza Faghani to the pitchside monitor and he’s sending the right back off for a straight red card in the 54th minute.
The Three Lions will be happy to hear the halftime whistle as they were second best for much of the half.
The problem? The four minutes in which Bellingham, Kane, and Saka tore them apart for two goals.
Shot attempts are 7-3 for Mexico, who have 63% possession.
Alvardo’s cross is headed toward goal by Jimenez, but Pickford flies back to tip it over for a corner kick.
The corner is headed toward Cesar Montes, who is defied from potting the equalizer by a desperate Bellingham.
Raul Jimenez spins a shot wide of Pickford’s post. Did the Everton keeper have it covered? Maybe, but Mexico are thriving at the moment.
If there was a lid on the place, it would be in orbit.
Mexico send in a free kick and it’s back heeled by Ezri Konsa to about knee height and Quinones lashes home with a side volley.
¡¡¡REACCIONA MÉXICO!!! ¡¡¡JULIÁN QUIÑONES APARECIÓ!!!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2026
El goleador mexicano en la Copa del Mundo 2026 perfora la portería inglesa y acorta distancias en el partido. pic.twitter.com/IJ4UQa9YiR
Who needs to worry about altitude when you can just get low and pass home.
This time it’s Harry Kane sliding a square pass to Bellingham, who completes a brace.
¡¡¡DOBLETE DE JUDE BELLINGHAM!!! ¡¡¡RÁPIDAMENTE CAE EL SEGUNDO DE INGLATERRA!!!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2026
Gilberto Mora pierde el balón en la salida y en un contragolpe, el jugador de Real Madrid vacuna a México. pic.twitter.com/zruNfd0jfa
Against the run of play in every sense of the world.
Mexico had controlled the middle but England find love going wide.
Declan Rice takes an outlet from Jordan Pickford and dribbles 60-some yards before sending it wide to Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal man dances into a cross that Jude Bellingham stoops to head home.
¡¡¡GOL DE INGLATERRA!!! ¡¡¡JUDE BELLINGHAM SILENCIA EL ESTADIO CIUDAD DE MÉXICO!!!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2026
Primer gol que recibe la Selección Mexicana en la Copa del Mundo 2026.
Centro de Saka y remata de cabeza el crack inglés. pic.twitter.com/L9NamAb2cI
Alvarado continues his terrific tournament with a whipped-in cross and Raul Jimenez does so well to nod it toward Jordan Pickford’s near post.
The Everton man gets low to palm it out for a corner.
England are on the ball a lot and “En-gland” chants are greeting them.
The gamesmanship is top-notch and the tension is, too.
0-0 into the 12th minute.
A high-boot near the face of Luis Romo sees Declan Rice go into the book early.
Romo is still being treated but it does not look like VAR is having a deeper look.
Finally, this game is set for kickoff at a full-throated Azteca!
Severe weather (thunderstorms) have delayed kickoff until at least 9pm ET.
Starting XI
Rangel
Gallardo
Vasquez
Montes
Sanchez
Romo
Lira
Mora
Quinones
Jimenez
Alvarado
Israel Reyes, Edson Alvarez, and Brian Gutierrez have been regulars off the bench and will begin the game there.
Starting XI
Pickford
O’Reilly
Konsa
Guehi
Quansah
Rice
Anderson
Bellingham
Gordon
Kane
Saka
So it’s Jarell Quansah — not Reece James or Djed Spence — who gets the start at right back. Very intriguing call.
Declan Rice and Reece James are both nearing full returns and either could solve England’s right back issues as neither Djed Spence nor Jarell Quansah have been exceptional at the tournament. Spence has also been less than 100% in recent days.
Mexico should look the same, as they’ve been solid on the field and out of the training room.
Kick off time: 8pm ET Sunday (July 5)
Venue: Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol
