10 England boys waiting after Kane’s penalty to beat Mexico in World Cup thriller | 2026 World Cup

It marked England’s longest knockout stage win since 1966. only nine before, each a wonderful drama in itself. However, it was the essence of this that separated them.

England entered the chaos of the Estadio Azteca, a place that holds a special ghost for them, to face the full force of the Mexican nation. And an almost unbeatable team here. Javier Aguirre’s men brought flawless form to the show; four wins from four so far in the tournament; theirs the competition. It was a great performance by the cohosts from their spot, arguably the biggest show in their history. An unofficial final for them.

It was a fun experience; a game that had everything good, starting with another strong performance by Jude Bellingham, who scored two goals to give England a 2-0 lead. The midfielder has thrived amidst this noise.

There was Mexican defiance – the main theme – and Julián Quiñones’ goal before the break. England had to make it tough for themselves and did so when Jarell Quansah was sent off for a foul in the 54th minute. The stand-in full-back is back from injury but not for long enough. The position continues to be the head of Thomas Tuchel.

There was another Harry Kane goal from the penalty spot in the 3-1 win, his sixth of the tournament and his 73rd of the season for club and country. Yet there was room for more, including Mexico’s second goal, from Raúl Jiménez, also a penalty, and a closing scene that showed England defending with their lives.

It was an attack for Mexico against England in a deep-set 5-3-1. Tuchel’s team saw it and when it was over, there was uncontrollable joy for them and the destruction of Mexico, the players in green crashed everywhere. The World Cup will be remembered El Tri. It will continue to watch England, who will advance to the quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday. Tuchel was looking for a spark, a moment to ignite as he aimed for glory. This may be it.

It was an episode where every conceivable plot felt like it was well-tuned and crammed into the mix. History was inevitable from England’s point of view. It was the team’s first return to Azteca since El Diego and the Hand of God in 1986. There was also the violence of the conditions: thunder and rain that forced the start of the game at one hour.

The delay increased the anticipation and was the first test of the event for the lower players in the dressing room. When the stage DJ played Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis, the crowd of clubbers shut up. Words were no longer heard. That was 90 minutes before the new start time.

There was a high altitude. That alienating feeling that struck the traveling England fans wasn’t tequila. Tuchel’s players were the ones who had to deal with it, especially from the start when Mexico kept coming strong, holding a wave of noise in the stadiums.

There was only one way for England to start: cool heads; proper spacing between positions. They could not escape. The crowd hated it when England played slowly and held the ball. But if it was wishful thinking to suggest that Tuchel’s players could find support in Mexico, they needed to dig in. Above all, they needed to get to the first water break intact. They did so.

It was a point Tuchel identified as one where England could start to feel OK with a little breeze and they were able to breathe a little after Jordan Pickford produced a smart low save to keep out Jiménez’s diving header on 16 minutes.

Mexico was brilliant with its fleeting combinations; their movement was good. Tuchel knew his team had to look to a central midfielder, Gilberto Mora, and gave Elliot Anderson the job. The tension was extraordinary. “This is us,” shouted Mexican fans; their new rallying cry. What if we knew?

It was England that moved. There were encouraging signs from Anthony Gordon on the left wing; he had the speed to trouble Jorge Sánchez. But the winning goal came from the other side. It was Pickford who quickly threw to Declan Rice, who ate down before passing to Bukayo Saka. The winger got to work, bought a yard outside, and the cross was complete. Bellingham arrived like a train wreck at home.

Bellingham was in the air. The atmosphere was burning him. He took out his chest and played. He also gave a boost to his administration. His second goal added to the incredible one-two punch and was a reward for Anderson winning the ball up top. Bellingham passed to Kane and continued to run. Kane skipped down and Bellingham just wanted it over Érik Lira.

England was free. And then they weren’t. Tuchel’s main concern was that his team allowed Mexico a way back into the tie in the set piece. There was no offense in terms of protection. Ezri Konsa blocked a free-kick down the middle on the left and Quiñones latched onto the loose ball.

Mexico might have equalized in stoppage time when Jiménez headed in a corner and César Montes was marked at the far post. It was Bellingham who came back for a save challenge. Before that Jiménez pulled a good chance past the far post while extending Pickford with a hanging header.

It was as if England needed the next goal and they started the second half on the front foot. Nico O’Reilly pushed high and inside from left back. There was a time when he saw a deflected shot coming back off the goal. However, England’s momentum was tested by Quansah’s red card.

The Mexican bench was outraged by his challenge and although the game continued, with Bellingham producing incredible skill and upfield, it was soon clear that Quansah was in trouble with the video assistant referee. It was an ill-advised lunge and when he hit Jesús Gallardo high, the referee, Alireza Faghani from Australia, had no choice.

Tuchel introduced John Stones through Saka but it was Gordon who helped put England back two goals ahead. He ran onto a loose ball after Kane challenged Mexico substitute Edson Álvarez and got ahead of Raúl Rangel. The goalkeeper has to clean him up. Kane has done more since then.

Mexico came back. It was another set piece from them and a deflection from Kane, who didn’t feel another substitute, Brian Gutiérrez, next to him as he went to resign. Kane kicked Gutiérrez and when Faghani was called by VAR on the pitchside monitor, England had that sinking feeling. Jiménez produced the ice-in-veins transformation.

Tuchel’s move was to send on Dan Burn and Djed Spence and switch to a back five. Can England win? The answer was yes, and with a measure of comfort – except a little at the end of 11 extra minutes when Stones shot wide of his own goal. Mexico continued to cross and England continued to break. Pickford was confirmed, Burn was great. In England, it was simply an incredible high.