England survived a hostile atmosphere, a second-half red card and relentless late pressure to defeat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday, booking their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter finals. The win sends the Three Lions into the last eight for a third successive World Cup, where they will meet Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Gardens on Saturday with a place in the semi-finals at stake. In one of the most dramatic games of the tournament, Jude Bellingham proved the difference with two goals in the space of just 98 seconds during the first half before Harry Kane converted a crucial penalty despite England playing with 10 men. The match, played in front of more than 80,000 spectators at the iconic Azteca Stadium, also featured a weather delay of almost an hour before England emerged victorious in one of the competition’s harshest environments. Mexico entered the competition unbeaten in 10 World Cup games at the Azteca, including three wins during this tournament, but England ended that remarkable record. Bellingham silenced the home crowd in the 36th minute, powering home a header before striking again just two minutes later after being set up by Kane, putting England firmly in control. Mexico refused to fold, with Julián Quiñones reducing the deficit in the 42nd minute to ensure the hosts remained firmly in the contest heading into half-time. The momentum appeared to swing decisively in Mexico’s favor nine minutes after the restart when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a dangerous challenge on Jesús Gallardo. Quansah became only the fourth England player to be sent off at a FIFA World Cup and the first since Wayne Rooney’s dismissal in 2006. Ray Wilkins in 1986 and David Beckham in 1998 are the only other England players to have received red cards at the tournament. With England reduced to 10 men, manager Thomas Tuchel responded by replacing Bukayo Saka with John Stones to strengthen his defence. Despite the numerical disadvantage, England struck again in the 60th minute when Anthony Gordon was brought down in the penalty area by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. Kane calmly converted from the spot for his sixth goal of the tournament and 14th World Cup goal of his career, moving level with West German legend Gerd Müller for fifth on the competition’s all-time points list. Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament also moved him within a shot of Golden Boot leaders Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. The England captain also made unwanted World Cup history later in the contest by conceding a penalty, becoming the first player since at least 1966 to score and concede a penalty in the same World Cup match. Raúl Jiménez converted with a stutter-step run-up mark to cut England’s lead to 3-2 and set up a tense finish. Mexico threw everything forward over the final 21 minutes, with 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Jordan Pickford and the England defense withstood wave after wave of pressure to preserve their narrow lead. The defeat extended Mexico’s frustrating World Cup record in the knockout rounds. El Tri have been eliminated in the round of 16 eight times since reaching the quarter-finals while hosting the tournament in 1986. Their only other appearance beyond the last 16 came when they hosted the World Cup in 1970. Despite holding a man advantage for most of the second half and receiving passionate support from the home crowd, Mexico were unable to find a decisive equalizer as England marched into another World Cup quarter-final.