England sees off an immense challenge from Mexico in what may be the best game of the 2026 World Cup

 

Jude Bellingham of England scores his team's second goal during the match against Mexico Julian Finney/FIFA/Getty Images

England saw off an immense challenge from Mexico, beating one of the tournament co-hosts in their home stadium after seeing one player sent off in a game that will go down as one of the best of the 2026 World Cup.

It was a game that had pretty much everything one could ask for: An electric atmosphere in Estadio Azteca, one of the great cathedrals of world soccer; two goals in two minutes from England; a goal from Mexico minutes later that threatened to shake Azteca’s foundations; a red card to England’s Jarrell Quansah that forced his side to defend a man down for 35 minutes; a penalty to England scored by their captain that rebuilt a two-goal lead; that same captain then committing a foul that allowed Mexico to pull close again; and then close to 30 minutes of Mexico pressuring England in search of an equalizer.

The 3-2 win for the English ensures they’ll play Norway outside Miami on Saturday in the quarterfinals after the Norwegians defeated five-time champions Brazil earlier in the day.

Mexico carried the run of play through much of the opening half of the game, including some brilliant saves from English keeper Jordan Pickford, but it was England who would eventually draw first blood and start one of the most incredible stretches of this tournament.

Through a cutting run down the right from Declan Rice, England had the ball in a dangerous position. Rice ended his run by laying off to Bukayo Saka, who charged toward the penalty area and lofted a cross into the box.

And then lightning struck in Mexico City on a night full of thunderstorms.

Off the ensuing kick, the Mexicans sloppily turned the ball over after Anthony Gordon made a strong challenge to knock the ball loose. England charged down the pitch as the ball popped loose to Bellingham. The Real Madrid star played a give-and-go with captain Harry Kane and received the ball back in the center of the box, sliding it past the Mexican keeper and into the back of the net for a shock 2-0 lead that came in all of two minutes.