England battled through a red card, two penalties and a raucous Estadio Azteca crowd to edge co-host, Mexico 3-2 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash on Sunday, booking their place in the quarter-finals at the expense of a nation dreaming of a historic run on home soil.

The Three Lions weathered an early spell of Mexican pressure, with Raúl Jiménez twice going close only for Jordan Pickford to produce fine saves to keep the scores level.

Against the run of play, England then exploded into life in the closing stages of the first half. Declan Rice carried the ball out from the back before releasing Bukayo Saka down the right, and the Arsenal winger’s cross was met by Jude Bellingham, who nodded home in the 37th minute.

Barely two minutes later, Bellingham struck again, latching onto a Harry Kane pass following a swift counterattack to complete a quickfire brace and put England 2-0 ahead. Mexico responded before the break, with Julián Quiñones pouncing on hesitant England defending from a corner to halve the deficit and send the Azteca into raptures heading into half-time.

The contest was turned on its head early in the second half when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card in the 54th minute after a VAR review of a reckless, studs-up challenge on Jesús Gallardo, leaving England to play the remaining half hour a man down while still clinging to a 2-1 lead. Down to 10 men, England were handed a lifeline when Anthony Gordon was felled in the box by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, and Harry Kane converted the resulting penalty in the 60th minute to restore their two-goal cushion. Mexico hit back almost immediately through their own spot kick, with Raúl Jiménez sending Pickford the wrong way in the 69th minute to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy finish.

England held firm for the remainder of the contest despite intense late pressure, with Pickford called into action again in stoppage time to deny Jiménez a leveller, while Mexico’s Álvaro Fidalgo also saw a late effort comfortably saved. Harry Kane was withdrawn for Morgan Rogers as the Three Lions saw out the closing stages, ultimately securing passage to the last eight and ending Mexico’s bid to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 1986.

England will now face Norway, who earlier eliminated five-time champions Brazil 2-1 courtesy of a Haaland brace, in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday, July 11.

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