Bellingham Leads 10-Man England Past Mexico 3-2

Jude Bellingham scored a brace, including a dramatic late winner, to propel 10-man England to a 3-2 victory over Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match. The win secured England's spot in the quarterfinals, marking Mexico's first-ever World Cup defeat at the Estadio Azteca. Despite playing with a man down for a significant portion of the second half after a red card to defender Marc Guéhi in the 55th minute, England managed to overcome the deficit.

Mexico initially took the lead in the 22nd minute through a header from Hirving Lozano following a free-kick. England responded quickly, with Bellingham netting his first goal in the 35th minute, a powerful shot from outside the box that leveled the score. The first half concluded with the teams tied at 1-1.

In the second half, Mexico regained the lead in the 68th minute when Santiago Giménez converted a penalty after a handball inside the box. However, England's resilience shone through. Bellingham completed his hat-trick and equalized for England in the 81st minute with a close-range finish after a scramble in the penalty area. The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Bukayo Saka, after a solo run down the right flank, cut inside and fired a shot past the Mexican goalkeeper, sealing the 3-2 win for England.

The match, played in front of a passionate crowd at the Estadio Azteca, was a testament to England's fighting spirit. Manager Gareth Southgate praised his team's determination and Bellingham's exceptional performance, highlighting his leadership qualities at just 23 years old. The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash for England against either Portugal or Uruguay, who are yet to play their Round of 16 fixture.