England withstood a ferocious Mexican onslaught and a second-half red card to claim a 3-2 victory at the Estadio Azteca, eliminating the co-hosts and advancing to the World Cup quarter-finals. The match, delayed an hour by thunderstorms, turned decisively in a 98-second first-half burst when Jude Bellingham headed in Bukayo Saka’s cross and then converted Harry Kane’s low centre to stun a crowd of over 80,000. Julián Quiñones volleyed Mexico back into the contest before the interval, but the home side could not overturn the deficit despite playing against ten men for the final 36 minutes.

The contest pivoted again nine minutes after the restart when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Jesús Gallardo, following a VAR review. England, however, restored their two-goal cushion on the hour mark after Anthony Gordon was felled by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel and Kane dispatched the penalty. The England captain then conceded a spot-kick of his own, catching Brian Gutiérrez’s foot, and Raúl Jiménez converted to set up a tense finale. Jordan Pickford, who had earlier denied Jiménez with two superb first-half saves, commanded his area as Mexico launched a barrage of crosses during eleven minutes of stoppage time.

Viewed from Mexico City, the defeat ended a proud unbeaten World Cup record at the Azteca, where El Tri had never lost in ten previous tournament matches. Mexican media noted that defensive lapses were punished ruthlessly, while President Claudia Sheinbaum offered encouragement, writing that “sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” In London, the performance was hailed as England’s finest knockout display since 1966, with Bellingham describing it as “the best night of my England career.” The result also drew an unexpected tribute from US President Donald Trump, who posted on social media that Kane is “a GREAT player.”

England will face Norway in Miami on 11 July after Erling Haaland’s side eliminated Brazil earlier in the day. The quarter-final pits two of the tournament’s in-form strikers against each other, with Kane’s six goals now one behind the Golden Boot leaders. For Mexico, the round-of-16 exit extends a familiar pattern: they have fallen at this stage in eight of the last nine World Cups, their last quarter-final appearance coming when they co-hosted the 1986 edition.