* England’s 10 men hang on after Kane penalty to beat Mexico
* Erling Haaland’s second-half double helps Norway stun five-time champions Brazil
Maravi Express
Ten-man England weathered a Mexico storm at the Azteca Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the third straight time with a rip-roaring 3-2 victory over the co-hosts on Sunday thanks to a Jude Bellingham double and Harry Kane penalty.
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While Erling Haaland’s second-half double helped Norway stun five-time winners Brazil in a Sunday night of the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 thrillers.
The Three Lions made it hard for themselves against the co-hosts but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at the iconic venue to set up a last-eight clash with Norway.
Mexico, who beat Ecuador 2-0 in the last 32 for their first knockout-stage win in 40 years, had only lost two competitive games at the Azteca in 89 matches since 1966 but England made it three with a performance of attacking verve and defensive grit.
“It was a crazy game,” Kane said. “We had to fight. We had to find something. I can’t really talk. Yeah, the occasion, the team, everything against us. We found a way.”
After the game was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, Mexico attacked from the start backed by their fanatical support who raised the decibel level even higher than before but England held firm and managed to take the sting out of the game.
Mexico’s only notable early chance came after 15 minutes when Raul Jimenez’s diving header was brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford after a pinpoint cross from Roberto Alvarado.
Pickford, who was to pull off several key saves, was making his 17th World Cup appearance to equal fellow keeper Peter Shilton as the all-time record holder for England’s men’s team.
Player of the match Bellingham put England ahead with a superb diving header from Bukayo Saka’s cross just past the half-hour and made it 2-0 within two minutes after another break down the right with captain Harry Kane providing the assist.
The Mexican crowd responded with chants of “Yes we can” and their players responded when livewire winger Julian Quinones volleyed home inside the box after a scramble following a free kick to get the hosts back into the match.
Soon after the break England went close to extending their lead when Nico O’Reilly hit the post but they were soon to be down to 10 men when defender Jarell Quansah was sent off for a rash sliding challenge with a high foot on Jesus Gallardo.
The red card was shown by the referee in the 54th minute after a VAR review, leaving Quansah as only the fourth England player ever to be sent off at a World Cup.
Jarell Quansah‘s tackle
The visitors kept their cool, though, and when Anthony Gordon ran through on goal he was fouled by keeper Raul Rangel. Kane calmly scored from the spot on the hour mark.
Just as England looked to enjoy some breathing space, captain Kane gave away a penalty as he tried to clear the ball and after a VAR review the referee pointed to the spot.
Raul Jimenez stepped up to make it 3-2 and give Mexico hope again and with just over 20 minutes to go, England had their backs to the wall and had to dig deep to keep the Mexicans at bay.
Despite giving up most of the possession, they hung on for a famous victory in the last match of this World Cup in Mexico.
“We needed everything and it was super difficult and always in the moments when we thought we catch the momentum, we had like setbacks, but that’s a proper mentality. Well done,” said coach Thomas Tuchel.
“When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.”
Mexico had not lost a competitive game at home since 2013 but had to say farewell to a tournament they have graced with passion on the pitch, in the stands and across the country. Their fans sang their hearts out until the very end.
“You can’t make mistakes because they punish you,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “We had a couple of errors there, and it saddens me for the people, but my players can be at peace because they did everything they could against a great team.”
It was England’s first visit to the famous stadium since they lost to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals after Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal and mazy dribble through a hapless defence sank Bobby Robson’s side.
Maradona’s “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”
Meanwhile, Brazil were left to rue Bruno Guimaraes’ missed penalty in the first half as Haaland, who had a quiet game until that moment, stole ahead of centre-back Gabriel to meet a cross from Andreas Schjelderup and put Norway ahead in the 79th minute.
The Manchester City striker then sealed Norway’s progress with a superb low drive from outside the box in the 90th minute.
Brazil were awarded a second penalty in the dying seconds of the game after referee Ismail Elfath deemed Leo Ostigard to have elbowed Casemiro and Neymar converted.
But it proved a mere consolation for Brazil, who exit the tournament before the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990.
In an entertaining tie in New Jersey, Norway midfielder Patrick Berg had the ball in the back of the net after just four minutes, only for the celebrations to be cut short when Alexander Sorloth was ruled offside.
Relieved to have escaped an early scare, Brazil were then handed the chance to go ahead when Kristoffer Ajer took out Matheus Cunha with a sliding challenge in the box.
But Newcastle midfielder Guimaraes’ stuttering penalty in the 15th minute was kept out by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, who was as influential in their victory as Haaland.
The 35-year-old was also on hand to deny Vinicius Jr after the Brazil attacker stole the ball from Norway captain Martin Odegaard.
Endrick replaced Cunha 58 minutes in and could have broke the deadlock with his very first touch after being played through by Vinicius, but the 19-year-old failed to hit the target despite going one-on-one with Nyland.
Carlo Ancelotti threw on Neymar 10 minutes later but Norway had the better of the chances in the final quarter, as Alisson saved from Schjelderup before the Benfica winger delivered the cross from which Haaland headed home.
Nyland was called into action again as he palmed a wayward looping effort on to the post in the 86th minute, before Haaland struck his second to move level on seven goals with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
All eyes were on Haaland and Arsenal defender Gabriel as they renewed the rivalry that has become familiar to Premier League fans.
The duo have shared several bruising battles in their club colours and this meeting on the international stage carried plenty of intrigue.
But their latest meeting took time to come to life.
Their first tussle did not arrive until after the half-hour mark and left Gabriel on the floor, while Haaland’s only touch inside the box in the quiet first half only led to a tame effort that was comfortably gathered by Alisson.
As the game progressed, so did the threat possessed by Haaland. The 25-year-old got ahead of Douglas Santos to almost slide in at the far post after a cross from Ajer in the 67th minute before the all-important moment 12 minutes later when he beat Gabriel to the key header.
And in a warning to their potential next opponents England, Haaland then made a second all on his own to take his goal tally to seven from just four appearances.
For Brazil, the loss will put the future of head coach Ancelotti into doubt. Brazil had just 33.5% of possession and only threatened from counter-attacks, but passed up the few chances that came their way.
They had 14 attempts in the game but only four of them on target, generating an xG of 2.73. Norway, meanwhile, only had an xG of 0.84.
Italian Ancelotti was appointed to the post in May 2025 after his departure from Real Madrid and helped Brazil secure World Cup qualification.
He has a contract that runs until 2030 but the manner of this exit will mean the debate around his future starts far sooner than anyone in Brazil expected.—Reporting by Reuters & BBC Sport; editing by Maravi Express
Knockout stages results
Round of 32
* South Africa 0-1 Canada
* Jordan 1-3 Argentina
* Brazil 2-1 Japan
* Germany 1(3)-Paraguay 1(4)
* Netherlands 1(2)-Morocco 1(3)
* Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 Norway
* France 3-0 Sweden
* Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
* England 1-2 DR Congo
* Belgium 3-2 Senegal
* USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
* Spain 3-0 Austria
* Portugal 2-1 Croatia
* Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
* Australia 1(2)-1(4) Egypt
* Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
* Colombia 1-0 Ghana
Round of 16
Saturday
* Canada 0-3 Morocco
* Paraguay 0-1 France
Today
* Brazil 1-2 Norway
* Mexico 2-3 England
Today
* Portugal v Spain (21h00)
* USA v Belgium (02h00)
Tomorrow
* Argentina v Egypt (18h00)
* Switzerland v Colombia (22h00)
Quarterfinals
July 9
* Morocco v France
* Belgium/USA v Spain/Portugal
July 10
* Norway v England
* Argentina/Egypt v Switzerland/Colombia
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