Jude Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds as 10-man England beat Mexico to reach the World Cup quarter-finals

England’s Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates after scoring the second goal (AP Photo) England survived a hostile atmosphere, a second-half red card and relentless late pressure to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The win sends the Three Lions into the round of 16 for a third consecutive World Cup, where they will face Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Gardens on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals. In one of the most dramatic games of the tournament, Jude Bellingham made the difference with two goals in the space of just 98 seconds in the first half before Harry Kane converted a crucial penalty despite England playing with 10 men. The match, played in front of more than 80,000 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, also featured a weather delay of almost an hour before England prevailed in one of the competition’s toughest environments. Mexico entered the competition unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca, including three wins during the tournament, but England ended that remarkable record. Bellingham silenced the home crowd with a powerful header in the 36th minute before striking again just two minutes later after being set up by Kane to put England firmly in control. Mexico refused to fold, Julián Quiñones reducing the deficit in the 42nd minute to ensure the hosts stayed firmly in the game until half-time. The momentum appeared to have swung decisively in Mexico’s favor nine minutes after the restart when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a dangerous challenge on Jesús Gallardo. Quansah became only the fourth England player to be sent off at the FIFA World Cup and the first since Wayne Rooney was sent off in 2006. Ray Wilkins in 1986 and David Beckham in 1998 are the only other England players to have been sent off at the tournament. With England reduced to 10 men, head coach Thomas Tuchel responded by replacing Bukayo Saka with John Stones to strengthen his defence. Despite the numerical disadvantage, England struck again in the 60th minute when Anthony Gordon was brought down inside the penalty area by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. Kane calmly converted his sixth goal of the tournament and 14th World Cup goal of his career from the spot to move level with West German legend Gerd Müller for fifth in the competition’s all-time scoring charts. Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament also moved him within one of Golden Boot leaders Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. The England captain also made unwanted World Cup history later in the match by conceding a penalty, becoming the first player since 1966 to score and miss a penalty in the same World Cup match. Raúl Jiménez converted with a typically stuttering run to cut England’s lead to 3-2 and set up a thrilling finale. Mexico threw everything forward in the final 21 minutes, along with 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Jordan Pickford and the England defense withstood wave after wave of pressure to maintain a narrow advantage. The defeat extended Mexico’s frustrating World Cup record in the knockout rounds. El Tri have now been knocked out in the last 16 eight times since reaching the quarter-finals when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Their only other appearance in the last 16 came when they hosted the 1970 World Cup. Despite enjoying a one-man advantage for most of the second half and receiving passionate support from the home crowd, Mexico were unable to find the decisive equalizer as England progressed to another World Cup quarter-final.