Mexico v England - World Cup result as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham goals secure famous victory despite Jarell Quansah red card

England delivered an extraordinary World Cup victory to set up a quarter-final clash with Norway, surviving the rarefied air and fervent home support of the Estadio Azteca to beat Mexico 3-2 despite Jarell Quansah’s red card.

Jude Bellingham was England’s hero, scoring two goals 99 seconds apart to fire his side into a first-half lead against the run of play, but after Julian Quinones hit back and then Quansah saw red early in the second half, it looked The Three Lions’ World Cup demons could return.

Yet Harry Kane and Raul Jimenez traded penalties and England produced a steadfast rearguard action to see out 11 minutes of stoppage time and claim one of their finest World Cup results.

The game got off to a sluggish start with Thomas Tuchel’s side looking to control the game and buy breaks wherever possible, with the hosts losing the foul count 6-1 in the opening half-hour.

However, the contest exploded into life when Jordan Pickford launched a deadly England counter-attack that ended with Bukayo Saka cutting to the by-line and expertly sending the ball to the back post where Bellingham was waiting.

And The Three Lions’ faithful could scarcely believe it less than two minutes later when Elliot Anderson won the ball back straight from kick-off and Kane slid a well-disguised pass across goal for Bellingham to turn home once again, their sixth joint goal participation for England.

That ignited a fearsome Mexican response though and four minutes later the hosts were back in the game, as England failed to deal with a dangerous free-kick delivery that fell into the path of Quinones, who smashed his fourth goal of the tournament past a helpless Pickford.

The onslaught continued right up until the half-time whistle as Pickford was forced into a superb diving save, and Cesar Montes looked set for a tap-in from the ensuing corner until Bellingham miraculously appeared to clear the danger.

A more resolute England pushed back in the second half and Nico O’Reilly hit the post, but their task got much tougher when Quansah’s foot bounced up into Jesus Gallardo’s shin in a last-ditch challenge and the referee had no other choice than to send the right-back off via a VAR check.

The pendulum swung again when Kane fed Anthony Gordon who was felled in the box for a penalty and the captain made no mistake from the spot to restore the two-goal lead, yet that lasted just eight minutes before Jimenez scored his own penalty.

Kane innocuously caught Brian Gutierrez battling for a bouncing ball, leaving The Three Lions with 20 minutes plus stoppage time to defend their slender advantage in the toughest of environments.

And incredibly, England did. Mexico peppered the penalty area with crosses but in his best game of the tournament, Pickford marshalled his territory superbly alongside nine determined outfield players.

England’s reward for becoming only the third side to beat Mexico at the Estadio Azteca is a clash with Norway on Saturday evening in Miami for a place in the World Cup semi-finals, though they may be without Jordan Henderson who injured his wrist in the celebrations according to Thomas Tuchel who said the injury "looks really bad".

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The German was also less than impressed by referee Alireza Faghani and his officiating team, telling the BBC: ”Just not good enough. Referees are just not good enough. Fourth officials are just not good enough. That’s the bottom line. VAR today, I think three people at the VAR are from South America in a match like this.

"If this is what I saw and this is correct, it’s just is this a clear and obvious error for the mistake for the penalty? I’m not sure.

”He did not even give the foul, he didn’t even overturn a yellow into a red, they overturn a situation where he doesn't even give a foul. No, referee’s not good enough, and the fourth official’s not good enough.

”In the end it was 11 minutes and he gives another two corners to make it 12 minutes.

"Everything went against us and we just refused to give in."

On England's performance, Tuchel added: ”Brilliant, absolutely brilliant today and the guys from the bench just amazing again but it’s not worth mentioning individual names. Everyone’s exhausted and everyone knows they won a crazy match of football in a crazy atmosphere and we were up against all odds.

”I think we can play much better and there’s a lot we can do much better. There’s still a disconnect from us from the best version of us that I see."

However, it wasn't all good news from the England boss.

On Henderson's injury, Tuchel told the BBC: ”Not good. Not good. Jordan just fell over and injured his wrist, looks really bad.”

Is that better than England's win over Croatia? Tuchel was full of pride for his team, telling the BBC: ”If a team has heart and belief, then it’s this team. Pure will. No words.

”That’s an iconic match, and Iconic stadium. We overcame so much adversity today, full credit. Very proud.

”I didn’t feel as hostile, I found it more like cheering and emotional, not really hostile. You were close to the bench when the national anthem was unbelievable and when they had chances and scored, we were aware of that, but we just refused to give in.

”We refused to give in on a level that is absolutely admirable."

Another player who had his best game of the tournament was Gordon, though you would not know it from his account of the evening:

Gordon told the BBC: "I think it won’t kick in until this evening but to celebrate like we did with the fans out there was once in a lifetime.

"We spoke about this game being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, atmosphere, but it was going to test us. And it did, in the worst way possible, and we came through. That can’t say any more about us."

On the travel, he added: "It was difficult, I think the travel and stuff weren’t great, the altitude [for] the first 20 minutes was difficult, even in training yesterday I felt it in my chest so it was a bit worrying.

"But we’re good players, we play the top level and it’s what we’re paid to do, to handle these situations.

"We’ve got the fans’ expectations, they’ve travelled all this way. We were never going to let them down.

"We knew it’d be tough but big players, big moments."

On his own performance, Gordon added: "When we got a man sent off I knew I’d have to be trustworthy, I knew I’d have to run more than ever. I’m happy to do so. I want to be good at everything, whatever kind of game I’m in I can change my game in any way, be effective in any way.

"Today, [I] didn’t touch the ball that much from what I remember but I ran, blocked crosses, defended, won the pen. I tried to do my best for the team and hopefully I’ve done that."

Engalnd's No. 1 had undoubtedly his best game of the World Cup, commanding his penalty area and producing a string of crucial saves especially the flurry at the end of the first half.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Pickford said: ”It was unreal. A lot of emotions, a lot of positives, showing resilience showing character.

"It wasn’t pretty at times [though] in the first half, it was pretty, two goals from Jude were special.

”It just had everything that puts you on the edge of your seat. It’s not pretty at times but it shows our togetherness. It was a special night.

"I think you saw the standard I set myself tonight.

"Producing saves in big moments, decision-making in big moments.

”Coming for crosses I thought was the standard that I set myself and that’s where I aim to be all the time and keeping improving on that.

”That’s what I’ve got to do. I’m one of the most experienced lads in the group. You’ve got to roll your sleeves up and I have always had that fight in me, that passion, that pride, I’ll always have that on my shirt.”

He left like he did not deserve his man-of-the-match award against Ghana but Bellingham certainly earned it in Mexico.

On his goal-saving block in the first half, he told the BBC: ”It could have been. At 2-1 the game was still there, when they scored it felt like the stadium almost collapsed.

”It was probably an important clearance, as important as the goal, but this win is far bigger than me.

”It’s the players who came on, it’s the supporters who came to Mexico, paid hard-earned money. This is a whole country’s performance.

On facing Norway in the next round: ”It’s still one game at a time. At the end of the day it’s just the round of 16. They pose a completely different threat. Some that we know really well, some world-class players.

”But if you can’t enjoy a night like this, just one night, then I don’t know what it’s worth.”

The Birmingham boy hit a brace but focussed the praise onto his team-mates after the game, comparing them to previous Three Lions sides.

Jude Bellingham speaking to BBC Sport: ”Hard to gather it all together really. Ten men, defending like how we defended in our box, clinical like we were in their box.

”Big pressure moments that maybe in years gone by and especially me watching as a fan as a little kid probably England would have crumbled but this team stuck together until the last second.

”The players who came on, the players who started, running themselves into the ground putting their body between them. That’s what this team’s all about.

"The atmosphere was by far the best I’ve played against in international football.

"This country as a footballing country is just magnificent. Although it was hostile, the reception was a beautiful thing to see as to how passionate a country can be about their team.

”In terms of the refereeing decisions, it is what it is, as easy as it is to say now, they’re human so no worries, we got through."

Speaking to the BBC, Kane also gave an update on Jordan Henderson, who fell during the England celebrations:

”Jude and Hendo just fell over there. I think he’s okay just something to do with his arm.

”It was a crazy game, we had to fight. I’ve just been singing there, can’t really talk. All the occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way."

On conceding the penalty: ”I thought I got to the ball first, it was one of those days that the ref gave a lot against us.

”In the end it didn’t matter so I’m happy.”

On the fans: ”Just look at them here, incredible, unbelievable support. Speechless, I can’t even talk.”

Almost 70% of you thought the referee was right to send off Quansah, but will he be suspended for that quarter-final with Norway?

Wayne Rooney told the BBC he believes Folarin Balogun's controversial reprieve should give the England defender hope.

”I just think now they’ve set a precedent with the Balogun situation," Rooney said.

"He gets a one-year suspended sentence if you like on the red card so what’s the reason that Quansah shouldn’t get that?

”You haven't taken the red card away so you’re saying he’s guilty of an offence. So that’s the question everyone will be asking when someone’s sent off.”

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HBO Max includes the full range of TNT Sports content and live coverage.

In 2026, subscribers can stream exclusive matches from the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, as well as every Gallagher PREM Rugby match, Premiership Women’s Rugby. 

Plus live Grand Tour cycling broadcasts including every stage of the Tour de France, every match from the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, every MotoGP, World Superbikes and British Superbikes race, the World Snooker Tour, the winter sports season, Speedway GP, and much more.

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So now it's 10 versus 10.