10-man England survive Mexico fightback to reach 2026 World Cup quarter-finals

England survived a dramatic second-half fightback from co-hosts Mexico to win 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca and advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Norway in Miami.

Jude Bellingham set the tone early, scoring twice in the first half to give England a commanding advantage. Harry Kane then converted a penalty to extend the lead to three, appearing to put the result beyond doubt.

The contest shifted sharply when Jarell Quansah was shown a red card, reducing England to ten men and handing Mexico a lifeline. The hosts capitalised, earning and converting a penalty of their own to pull the score back to 3-2 and set up a tense closing spell.

England, however, held firm. Reduced to ten men and playing in front of a hostile crowd at the Azteca, they defended with discipline to see out the result and secure their place in the last eight.

The victory marks a significant moment for England, who navigated one of the tournament’s most hostile environments under intense pressure. Bellingham’s brace underlined his status as one of the competition’s standout performers, while Kane’s contribution from the spot continued his record of delivering in knockout football.

England’s reward is a quarter-final meeting with Norway in Miami, a fixture that will carry its own weight of expectation as the Three Lions push deeper into a tournament they have not won since 1966.