Bellingham powers 10-man England past Mexico, into World Cup quarters

Mexico City: Jude Bellingham's double inflicted a rare defeat on Mexico at the Estadio Azteca as 10-man England won a nerve-racking World Cup classic 3-2 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals.

Harry Kane also scored from the penalty spot as the Three Lions overcame Jarell Quansah's red card, high altitude and a fervent home support to keep their quest for a first major tournament win in 60 years alive.

England have relied on Bellingham and Kane throughout the tournament and that duo have carried them into a last eight showdown with Erling Haaland's Norway. amunra.qpon

"When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more," said England boss Thomas Tuchel.

"We need to take this in. This is Azteca, it's Mexico, a crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in, now it's full steam ahead."

Bellingham struck twice in 98 seconds in the first half to condemn Mexico to just a third defeat in 90 matches at the Azteca.

Mexico's goalkeeper #13 Guillermo Ochoa reacts after losing on July 5, 2026. (Photo by Carl De Souza / AFP)

Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez reduced the Mexican arrears but they fell short of a place in the quarter-finals.

Victory also helped to erase some of England's nightmarish memories at the Azteca in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona scored a double for Argentina, including the infamous "Hand of God" goal.

The match was delayed by an hour after a thunder storm and heavy rain lashed the Mexican capital for hours before the planned 6.00pm (0000 GMT) kick-off time.

Despite the sodden conditions, over 80,000 fans crammed into the stadium to create a deafening noise.

Tuchel was wary of a fast start from Mexico as his side adjusted to the altitude 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level.

Mexico had flown out of the traps when they won a World Cup knockout game for the first time in 40 years against Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday.

England's forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Mexico and England at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on July 5, 2026. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP)

This time England managed to keep Javier Aguirre's side at bay, but did need a crucial intervention from Jordan Pickford to deny Jimenez opening the scoring with a diving header that was headed for the bottom corner.

Tuchel made three changes to the side that needed a heroic performance from Kane to prevent an embarrassing early exit to DR Congo.

Quansah was forced to deputise at right-back with Reece James not fit to start for a third consecutive game, opening up Tuchel to criticism over his decision not to select more specialist cover in that position.

Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka also started out wide and both made telling contributions.

Saka's cross picked out Bellingham to power in a header for the first goal Mexico had conceded in five World Cup games.

The hosts failed to compose themselves as within two minutes the Real Madrid midfielder had doubled England's lead.

Kane's ball across fell perfectly for Bellingham to power in his fourth goal of the tournament.

Yet what should have been a comfortable lead was nearly wiped out by half-time.

Quinones blasted in his fourth goal of the tournament to spark the Mexico rally after England failed to clear a free-kick.

Jimenez drilled wide and saw another header saved by Pickford before Bellingham made a last-ditch intervention to deny Cesar Montes a certain equaliser.

Nico O'Reilly nearly restored England's two-goal cushion at the start of the second half as his deflected shot cannoned off the post.

Quansah was shown a straight red card on 54 minutes after a VAR review for a mistimed lunge on Jesus Gallardo.

But just six minutes later the 10 men had added to their lead when Gordon was wiped out by Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel and Kane emphatically dispatched the penalty.

The England captain's sixth goal of the tournament puts him just one behind Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.

The game took another huge momentum swing when this time Kane was penalised for a foul inside his own box and Jimenez slotted home the penalty to set up a frantic final 20 minutes.

England though stood tall, defending at times frantically to resist the Mexican wave during 11 minutes of additional time and reach a third consecutive World Cup quarter-final.

أبدى المدرب الروماني رزفان لوشيسكو سعادته بالانضمام لنادي السد كمدرب لمدة موسمين قادمين، مشيداً بنادي السد والذي يعتبر من أهم الأندية في قارة آسيا.
وقال رزفان في تصريحاته الاولى لموقع الزعيم: يُعد نادي السد واحدًا من أهم الأندية في آسيا، ومن أبرز الأندية في العالم العربي. وأعتقد أنني أستطيع أن أعتبر نفسي مدربًا محظوظًا لكوني جزءًا من منظومة السد، وفريق السد، وآمل أيضًا أن أكون جزءًا من تاريخ هذا النادي. وأنا أدرك جيدًا حجم المسؤولية الملقاة على عاتقنا، وأعرف أن الجميع ينتظر الكثير من الفريق، ومن المدرب، ومن هذا الموسم. وعلينا أن نحقق ليس فقط أهدافنا، بل أيضًا أحلامنا.
وأضاف المدرب الروماني: منذ تجربتي الأولى في آسيا، هنا في قطر بين عامي 2012 و2014، أدركت جيدًا أن السد فريق يضم لاعبين أصحاب جودة عالية، ونجومًا كبارًا، وأن سقف الطموحات فيه مرتفع، سواء من جانب الجهاز الفني أو اللاعبين. وهذا، كما قلت سابقًا، يمثل جانبًا مهمًا جدًا بالنسبة لأي مدرب.
وبخصوص فلسفته الخاصة بكرة القدم، قال: صحيح أن لدينا فلسفتنا الخاصة كجهاز فني. نحن نريد أن نقدم كرة قدم تتناسب مع هوية السد، لأن السد فريق يفرض أسلوبه على المنافسين، وفريق يلعب دائمًا من أجل الفوز بالبطولات.
وأضاف: تحقيق البطولات يتطلب عقلية قوية، وشخصية قوية، وسلوكًا احترافيًا داخل الملعب، وفريقًا قادرًا على فرض سيطرته. ولهذا السبب، من الضروري، بل من الواجب، أن نكون فريقًا منظمًا يتمتع بانضباط كبير في العمل. وعن جماهير الزعيم، أشار رزفان الى أنه يعرف جيدًا أن جماهير السد تريد الفوز بكل بطولة، وهذا هو النهج الصحيح والعقلية المناسبة لفريق اعتاد على الانتصارات. وقال: يجب أن يكون هدفنا هو نفسه؛ أن نقدم كل ما لدينا، وأن نكون فريقًا يتمتع بروح قتالية، وثقة بالنفس، وفي الوقت نفسه يمتلك القدرة على رد الفعل دائمًا. خلال أي موسم، تمر جميع الفرق في العالم بفترات مختلفة. هناك لحظات جيدة وفترات ناجحة، كما توجد لحظات صعبة وظروف سلبية. وفي مثل هذه المواقف تحديدًا، يجب أن يمتلك الفريق القدرة على الرد والعودة بقوة. ومن بين أهدافنا، إلى جانب الفوز، أن نبني مجموعة متماسكة تمتلك عقلية قتالية.
وتابع لوشيسكو: الخبرات التي اكتسبناها كلاعبين وكمدربين هي جزء من تاريخنا الشخصي، ويمكنها أن تساعدنا، كما ذكرت، على التعامل مع مختلف مراحل الموسم. لكن في الوقت نفسه، ما يجعل الفريق يفوز هو الحاضر. والحاضر يعني روح القتال، وروح التضحية.
وأتم حديثه قائلا: أعلم أن الجميع يريد الفوز بدوري أبطال آسيا. وأعلم أن الجميع يريد التتويج بلقب الدوري. وأعلم أن الجميع يريد كأس الأمير وجميع البطولات. لكن في الوقت نفسه، علينا أن نتحلى بالهدوء، وأن نثق بأنفسنا، وأن نتجنب دائمًا أن نسمح للضغوط المحيطة بنا بالسيطرة علينا.

Rio De Janeiro: Vinicius Junior has spoken of his "overwhelming frustration" after Brazil's World Cup elimination by Norway in the round of 16.

The 25-year-old apologized to fans for Brazil's 2-1 loss to Norway last Sunday, a result that marked its earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

"Almost four years later, I'm once again thinking about what to write after the disappointment of a World Cup," he said, referring to the quarterfinal loss to Croatia in Qatar.

"So many people of all ages supported us and embraced our dream that it would be unfair to remain silent. But I needed a few days to reflect."

Brazil finished top of its World Cup group and beat Japan in the round of 32 before last Sunday's defeat in New Jersey.

Vinicius scored four goals and provided an assist during the tournament, taking his overall World Cup record to five goals and three assists in nine games.

"Wearing the Brazil shirt is the greatest honor of my life, and going out of a World Cup in the round of 16 is a feeling that's hard to explain," he said. "I know how much I prepared, how focused I was and how badly I wanted this, for all of you and for my family."

The Real Madrid forward added "The frustration is overwhelming. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we didn't. I'm sorry, and I'll keep fighting for our dream of taking Brazil back to the top of the world."