Ten-man England defeated Mexico to reach the World Cup quarterfinals.
England secured a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals by defeating co-hosts Mexico 3-2 during a gripping Round of 16 clash at Azteca Stadium. Overcoming a hostile home crowd and playing with ten men for much of the second half, Thomas Tuchel’s squad demonstrated remarkable resilience. Historically, playing at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium has proved notoriously difficult for European teams, adding immense value to this hard-fought victory. The weather also played a disruptive role, forcing a one-hour delay before kickoff.
Jude Bellingham took control of the match early, scoring twice within a two-minute window. Striking in the 36th and 38th minutes, he gave his team a commanding advantage. Julian Quinones managed to reduce the deficit just before halftime, keeping the home fans hopeful.
Second Half Drama Unfolds
Tensions rose sharply after halftime. Refereeing decisions changed the game's dynamic when Jarell Quansah received a straight red card following a VAR review of his tackle on Jesus Gallardo in the 54th minute. Quansah became the fourth English player to be sent off in tournament history, recalling Wayne Rooney’s infamous exit two decades ago. Reacting swiftly, Tuchel brought John Stones off the bench to solidify the backline and protect their narrow lead.
Kane Secures Hard-Fought Victory
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the visiting side struck again. Harry Kane confidently converted a penalty in the 60th minute after Raul Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon. Raul Jimenez answered with a penalty of his own in the 69th minute, creating a tense finale. Ultimately, the Mexican squad failed to break down the resolute English defense, crashing out of their home tournament. England now advances to face Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Gardens for a place in the semifinals, moving closer to ending their decades-long trophy drought dating back to 1966.
With inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI
