England have reached the World Cup quarter-finals after beating co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic last-16 match at the Azteca Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel’s side survived a fierce home crowd, high altitude and a second-half red card to secure one of their most memorable knockout wins.
The match had already been delayed by one hour before kick-off. Once it started, the contest developed into a five-goal thriller.
Jude Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds during the first half to give England a 2-0 lead.
Mexico responded before half-time through Julian Quinones, but Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after the break.
Raul Jimenez later scored a penalty for Mexico, setting up a tense finish. England held on through 11 minutes of stoppage time to book a quarter-final meeting with Norway on Saturday.
Bellingham silences Azteca with quick double
Mexico had not conceded a goal at the tournament before facing England.
That record ended in the 36th minute when Declan Rice drove England forward on the counter-attack.
Bukayo Saka then crossed for Bellingham, who headed England into the lead.
Only 98 seconds later, England struck again from the restart. Kane squared the ball to Bellingham, who forced it in to make it 2-0.
The two quick goals stunned the Azteca crowd and put England in control.
Mexico, however, recovered before the break.
Quinones pulled one back in the 43rd minute after England failed to deal with a soft free-kick.
Jordan Pickford then kept England ahead in first-half stoppage time, tipping Raul Jimenez’s header over the bar as Mexico pushed for an equaliser.
Quansah red card changes the match
England started the second half brightly.
Nico O’Reilly nearly restored the two-goal cushion in the 50th minute, but his shot from outside the box hit the post.
The match changed four minutes later when Jarell Quansah was sent off.
The defender, playing at right-back, made a reckless sliding challenge. Referee Alireza Faghani showed him a straight red card after a VAR review.
Despite going down to 10 men, England quickly won a penalty when Anthony Gordon was brought down by the Mexico goalkeeper.
Kane stepped up and scored in the 60th minute to make it 3-1.
It was Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament.
Mexico penalty creates tense finish
Mexico were given a way back into the match in the 69th minute.
Faghani pointed to the spot after being sent to the monitor by VAR to review a challenge by Kane on Brian Gutierrez.
Jimenez converted the penalty to reduce England’s lead to 3-2.
Tuchel then changed England’s shape to protect the advantage.
He introduced Dan Burn and Djed Spence, switching to a back five as Mexico increased the pressure.
England spent the closing stages defending crosses, blocking shots and clearing loose balls from the box.
John Stones almost scored an own goal in the 100th minute, but the ball went inches wide of Pickford’s post.
England survived the late scare and held on for a famous victory.
Tuchel praises England’s mentality
Tuchel praised his players for showing resilience in difficult conditions.
The England head coach said the team needed “everything” to overcome Mexico at the Azteca.
He also praised the squad’s mentality after they managed several setbacks during the match.
However, Tuchel was unhappy with some of the officiating decisions, especially the VAR intervention that led to Mexico’s penalty.
England now turn their attention to Norway, who eliminated Brazil in the last 16.
The quarter-final will be played on Saturday, with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.
