Under-numbered England eliminated hosts Mexico from the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win over them on Sunday at the Estadio Astadi Astica in Mexico City.
England set up a date in Saturday's quarter-finals in Miami with Norway, who had earlier eliminated Brazil 2-1, and the match carried a special symbolism for England, who returned to the Astadica, where they went out against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in the famous match that saw Diego Maradona score with his hand.
With this win, England continued their journey in the tournament, while Mexico became the second host country to bid farewell to the World Cup after Canada, which lost to Morocco, and the United States, the third host nation, remains on a date with Belgium in the quarter-finals.
Jude Bellingham's brilliance
Jude Bellingham cut the English goal line after 36 minutes, and two minutes later he came back to add the second goal, but the Mexican response was not delayed, as Julian Quiñones scored the goal to reduce the deficit for the hosts in the 42nd minute, a result that ended the first half with England leading by two goals to one.
At the beginning of the second half, specifically in the 54th minute, Jarrell Kwansah received a red card, leaving England with ten men, and despite the numerical deficit, Harry Kane scored a third goal from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, and Raul Jimenez responded with the same weapon to reduce the gap again for Mexico.
England seek title that has been absent for 60 years
The match was breathless in its final moments until the referee's whistle announced that England had won by three goals to two, as Harry Kane's men continued their journey in the tournament in search of their first title in 60 years, while Mexico failed to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in its history and the third at home after 1970 and 1986.
England finished the group stage top of their group with two wins over Croatia and Panama and a draw with Panama, before knocking out the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32.
The hosts achieved the perfect mark with three wins in the group stage at the expense of South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic, before beating Ecuador in the first knockout round.
Prior to their match against England, Mexico scored 8 goals without conceding in the four matches they played before this match.
Mexico has a remarkable record at the Azteca Stadium, as they have only tasted loss in two out of 89 matches, and the two teams have met twice before, and both times the English team was able to settle the match in their favor.
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