England eliminate Mexico 3-2 in absolute classic at FIFA World Cup

Monday, 6 July 2026

Jude Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart, Harry Kane converted a penalty when England were down to 10 men, and the Three Lions handed Mexico their first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, a wild 3-2 victory on Sunday night (Monday NZT) to reach the quarterfinals.

England move on to face Norway on Sunday (NZT) in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a spot in the semifinals.

Bellingham stunned the crowd of more than 80,000 at a venue where Mexico were unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches, including three this year, when he scored a header in the 36th minute and again in the 38th minute on a pass from Kane.

Julián Quiñones scored for Mexico in the 42nd minute, and the game appeared to turn in their favour when England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th for a dangerous foul on Jesús Gallardo.

But England were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, and Kane converted for his sixth goal of this tournament and 14th of his World Cup career, matching Gerd Müller of West Germany for fifth on the all-time scoring list.

Kane has six goals in this tournament, one behind Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.

Kane then committed a foul that made him the first player since at least 1966 to score and concede a penalty in a World Cup game. Raúl Jiménez converted the kick with a stutter-step approach to move El Tri to 3-2.

Mexico attacked relentlessly over the final 21 minutes, plus 11 minutes of stoppage time, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and England's defenders held steady.

Mexico have not reached the quarterfinals since hosting the World Cup in 1986. Since then, El Tri have lost in the round of 16 eight times, failed to advance past the group stage in 2022 and were disqualified from the 1990 tournament.

Catch up on all the action in the live blog below.