England's players celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Mexico and England at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on July 5, 2026. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)
England battled past Mexico into the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and Norway stunned Brazil as a FIFA decision to reprieve United States star, Folarin Balogun, after an intervention from Donald Trump triggered uproar.
A day of gripping drama on and off the field was crowned by an epic contest at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca as 10-man England dug deep to defeat Mexico 3-2 in a match that more than lived up to the hype.
Jude Bellingham looked to have put England firmly on the road to the quarter-finals after scoring twice in 98 seconds to give the Three Lions a 2-0 lead after 38 minutes.
Mexico hit back through Julian Quinones to make it 2-1 at half-time and were given a huge boost on 54 minutes when England defender Jarell Quansah was given a straight red card after a VAR review.
