Bellingham double and Kane penalty send 10-man England past Mexico into World Cup quarter-finals

England reached the World Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, producing one of their finest tournament performances despite finishing the match with 10 men.

Jude Bellingham scored twice before half-time to put Thomas Tuchel’s side in control, and Harry Kane converted a penalty to give England the cushion they needed. Mexico pulled the scoreline back to 3-2, but the Three Lions held on after going down to 10 men midway through the second half to seal a historic win on Mexican soil.

England will now face Norway in Miami on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals. Norway’s place in the last eight came courtesy of a stunning 2-0 defeat of Brazil, with Erling Haaland scoring twice late on — a result that has significantly altered the landscape of England’s potential path to the final.

Prior to beating DR Congo in the last 32, England had been projected to face Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Spain — four nations with an average FIFA ranking of 5.75 as of the June 11 update, a run described as potentially the hardest in World Cup history. With 31st-ranked Norway now in the quarter-final picture, the average ranking of England’s projected opponents rises to 11.3, offering a statistically easier route — though Norway’s dismantling of five-time champions Brazil is a sharp reminder that rankings carry little weight on the pitch.

England’s projected route to the final currently reads: Norway in the quarter-finals in Miami, Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday 15 July, and Spain in the final in New Jersey on Sunday 19 July.

For context, France’s likely run through Morocco, Spain and England carries an average opponent ranking of 4.3 — tightening to 3.3 if Argentina reach the final instead of Spain. Spain themselves, ranked second in the world, have yet to secure their quarter-final place ahead of Monday’s tie with Portugal, and face a projected gauntlet of Portugal, Belgium, France and Argentina at an average ranking of 4.5. Argentina, meanwhile, still need to beat Egypt on Tuesday before their projected path of Colombia, England and Spain — averaging a ranking of 12 — comes into view.

England’s draw has undeniably opened up. Whether Tuchel’s side can take advantage of it begins against Norway on Saturday night.