England Overcome Mexico at Azteca to Reach Quarter‑Finals

Bellingham’s Double Strikes

Jude Bellingham netted twice in rapid succession, sealing a 3‑2 victory for England at the Estadio Azteca. The Real Madrid midfielder’s first goal came from a Saka cross, and within two minutes he added a second, heading home after a precise ball across the box. His brace condemned Mexico to just their third loss in 90 matches at the famed venue.

The England side battled despite being reduced to ten men after Jarell Quansah’s red card in the 54th minute. Jordan Pickford produced crucial saves, notably denying Raul Jimenez with a diving stop that looked destined for the bottom corner. Bellingham’s intervention moments later also averted a certain Mexican equaliser.

Penalty Drama and Late Tension

After the red card, England forced a penalty when Anthony Gordon was clipped by Mexico keeper Raul Rangel, and Harry Kane calmly converted to make it 3‑1. Kane’s spot‑kick marked his sixth tournament goal, keeping him just one behind the Golden Boot race leaders Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. The English captain later mishandled the advantage, conceding a foul in his own box that Jimenez turned into a penalty, sparking frantic closing minutes.

Mexico pushed hard during eleven minutes of added time, and Nico O’Reilly’s deflected effort rattled the post, testing England’s resolve. The visitors held firm, preserving a nail‑biting win that sends them into a third consecutive World Cup quarter‑final. The match also erased some of England’s dark memories at the Azteca, recalling the 1986 quarter‑final loss to Argentina.

Looking Ahead to Norway

England’s next opponent is Norway, led by Erling Haaland, who will provide a different kind of challenge after the high‑altitude, rain‑soaked conditions in Mexico City. Coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes for this clash, aiming to keep the momentum after a near‑miss against DR Congo earlier in the tournament. The Three Lions will rely on their experienced attackers, including Bellingham and Kane, to continue their pursuit of a first major tournament triumph in 60 years.

The victory also highlighted the squad’s depth, with Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon providing width and threat on the flanks. The performance under pressure shows a maturing group ready for the knockout stage ahead. As the team prepares for the quarter‑final, the Estadio Azteca moment will serve as a confidence boost for the run toward the title.