Mexico vs England

In perhaps the best match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far, England beat Mexico 3-2 in a breathless Round of 16 at a thunderous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, ending the co-hosts' unbeaten tournament run in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. Jude Bellingham put England in front inside ten minutes with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, silencing 87,000 Mexican fans — and then did it again in the 35th minute, racing onto a through-ball and slotting past Guillermo Ochoa with his left foot to give England a commanding lead. Mexico refused to fold. Julián Quiñones — the tournament's great underdog story who had scored the fastest goal in Mexican World Cup history in the opener — pulled one back with a stunning curling effort just before half-time to reignite the Azteca. Harry Kane extended England's lead from the penalty spot in the 60th minute after Edson Álvarez's rash challenge, making it 3-1 and seemingly putting the match to bed. Then came chaos. Defender Jarell Quansah — on as a substitute — was sent off for a reckless challenge that left the Azteca erupting. Raúl Jiménez converted the resulting penalty in the 69th minute to make it 3-2, and the final twenty minutes were played in an atmosphere unlike anything seen at this tournament. England, ten men holding out against a frantic, desperate Mexico and a stadium that refused to give up, somehow survived. Bellingham covered every blade of grass, Kane blocked two shots on the line, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced two miraculous saves in stoppage time. For Mexico, a campaign that had given the nation so much joy — unbeaten, highest scorers in the tournament coming into this match — ends in heartbreak. For England, who advance to a quarter-final against Norway in Miami on July 11, the victory is equal parts heroic and nerve-shredding.