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England’s Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon celebrate - Paul Childs/Reuters
England are into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where they will face Norway, after a heroic last-16 victory over Mexico.
Even Donald Trump, the United States president, paid tribute to England on what was a chaotic night in Mexico that featured an hour’s rain delay, five goals, a red card and midfielder Jordan Henderson being taken to hospital despite not playing.
Trump posted on social media “Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!” following the full-time whistle, while the Prince of Wales said: “Well done England! Bring on the quarter-final!”
The result at the famous Azteca Stadium is one of the finest by an England team on foreign soil, and the game will go down as an all-time classic.
With pubs across the country packed after licensing laws were changed by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, the game was delayed by an hour because of storms in Mexico City – but for those who stayed up it was certainly worth the wait.
Twice England led by two goals, but on both occasions Thomas Tuchel’s team allowed tournament co-hosts Mexico to reduce the deficit, and they were reliant on an extraordinary backs-to-the-wall defensive stand after Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half.
Jude Bellingham was superb, scoring twice in 98 seconds in the first half, only for Julián Quiñones to reduce the deficit three minutes before half-time.
Speaking post-match, Bellingham said: “Text your bosses and tell them you’re not coming in, as simple as that.”
England’s plight worsened when Quansah was correctly dismissed for a wild lunge, but they regained their two-goal lead thanks to a Kane penalty after Anthony Gordon had been upended by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel.
But there was more drama to follow, with Kane conceding a hotly contested penalty that was converted by Raúl Jiménez.
Tuchel rang the changes as England dropped deep, but they clung on to their slender advantage.
Tuchel’s team will now face Norway, who knocked out Brazil, in Saturday’s quarter-final in Miami, and the German hailed his side.
“That is proper mentality. I’m very proud,” he said. “We needed everything. It was super difficult. In the moments we thought we catch the momentum, we had setbacks.”
On England’s reaction to their setbacks, Tuchel added: “This team really mean it. When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.
“We need to take this in. This is Azteca, it’s Mexico, a crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in, now it’s full steam ahead.”
England will almost certainly have to play the quarter-final without Henderson, who appeared to injure his wrist in a nasty fall during the celebrations.
10:10am
A startling record
09:44am
Live For-Evra
Who had this on their bingo card? Patrice Evra, dressed in a Liam Gallagher starter kit singing FatBoy Slim, holding a cone of chips and a (possibly real, possibly fake) fish.
Is he singing Praise You in the mistaken belief it is an Oasis song?
The fish & chips smelled stronger than the tacos
Congratulations to England national football team — do you think it's finally coming home this time?
EVRASIS got your back#ilovethisgame#forevramonday#positive4evrapic.twitter.com/GX88WOu2ND
— Patrice Evra (@Evra) July 6, 2026
09:29am
What our readers are saying
09:21am
A lifeline for Quansah?
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The Attorney General has opened the door to attempting to overturn Jarell Quansah’s suspension after his red card for England last night.
Donald Trump stepped in last week and contacted the Fifa president in order to ensure that Folarin Balogun, a US striker, had his own sending off reversed.
After Quansah saw red during England’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico, Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Hermer were urged to intervene, with one social media user quipping: “Get Lord Hermer on the case.”
A source close to the Attorney General has now responded, telling The Telegraph: “Hermer will do whatever it takes in Britain’s national interest.”
09:06am
What is it like to watch England in a casino?
In case you wondered, Thom Gibbs was at the Hippodrome in central London in the witching hour. Drinking and watching football into the early hours on a school night is a novelty that proved too hard for these fans to resist, but they had to endure a tense few hours.
08:40am
The Kane interview which has gone viral
08:18am
Where Kane stands in Golden Boot race
08:09am
Tuchel praises England’s resillience
07:59am
Kane’s strained vocal chords
07:39am
Scenes from Boxpark
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There was plenty for England fans to celebrate - Steven Paston/PA
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No pints flying through the air at this juncture - Steven Paston/PA
07:30am
From a former England captain
07:29am
Wayne Rooney on England’s performance
07:14am
Keir Starmer is awake
07:14am
What a cameo
07:10am
Mexico City very hospitable
07:02am
The latest on Jordan Henderson
He will not be returning to Kansas City with the rest of his team-mates, instead he will stay in Mexico City after being admitted to hospital with a wrist injury sustained in bizarre circumstances.
06:57am
Micah Richards: England were outstanding
06:50am
Joe Hart on England’s togetherness
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Djed Spence made some important defensive interventions - Natacha Pisarenko/AP
06:42am
Speaking of Bellingham...
Oliver Brown writes from the Azteca that the Real Madrid man confirmed his status as the finest English midfielder of his generation with a Bryan Robson-like display.
06:36am
Bellingham tells fans to phone in sick
“Text your bosses and tell them you’re not coming in, as simple as that,” Bellingham said. “I’ve been an England fan since I was seven years old. I remember the 2010 World Cup was my first one and obviously in recent times we’ve had better moments, but I remember watching a few tournaments and some of the players are now on TV talking a lot and they struggled in these kinds of nights.
“It was tough because it didn’t feel like we really got behind them because there wasn’t much reason to, and to be part of an England team that gives so much to the country that can give them these moments and nights like this, it means as much as anything in my career and in my life, really.
“So yeah, kids stay off school, parents don’t go to work, enjoy the day. Be with your friends, go down the pub again if you can, and enjoy it because these nights don’t come along often.”
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Jude Bellingham delivered an outstanding individual performance - Ricardo Mazalan/AP
06:28am
Mexico fans gathered across the US
These images are from a fan park in Seattle, which is a long old way north of the border.
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Mexico fans experienced a rollercoaster of emotions - Chris Torres/Shutterstock
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Mexico fans cheer on their team - Chris Torres/Shutterstock
06:22am
A lovely moment between Kane and Crouch
06:21am
Lineker: It’s aged me 10 years
Speaking on the Rest is Football, Gary Lineker said: “At my age, I can’t cope with things like that. I think it’s aged me 10 years, which is not great when you’re already ancient.”
“That was amazing at the end, defensively. England hanging on. Obviously, 10 men. “That altitude, when you’re not acclimatised, it’s incredibly difficult. I thought they showed incredible heart.”
On Bellingham, he added: “He is, I think, everything, perhaps, that England has been missing over recent years. I know he’s been playing in recent years but he’s now coming into his prime. I mean, he’s an extraordinary athlete.”
06:20am
Why this was such a mad game
Jason Burt has broken down the eight reasons why England vs Mexico was one of the great World Cup games.
05:59am
Who was England’s best player?
There were some sterling performances at the Azteca, and Mike McGrath has run the rule over England’s players. You can read his player ratings here.
05:54am
Not everyone is quite so sporting...
05:53am
Very well behaved fans
05:51am
Mexico’s president reacts
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo gave up her ticket to the opening game of the tournament, Mexico vs South Africa, such is the degree of her unpopularity in the country. Losing a World Cup last-16 game will do little for the poll numbers.
05:46am
Fans are covered in white foam
It’s like a cross between confetti and shaving foam, and appears to be everywhere on the streets of Mexico City. Not a local custom I was aware of before the tournament.
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Mexico fans keep their spirits up - Claudia Rosel/Getty Images
05:41am
Mexico fans join in the celebrations
All very fraternal outside the Azteca it seems, with Mexico fans in joyous spirits and keen to join in England fans’ celebrations. Good for them, they are more gracious than I would be. They also appear to have fake snow.
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Mexico and England fans side by side - James Manning/PA
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An England fan is bounced by Mexico supporters - James Manning/PA
05:34am
Harry Kane has a new fan
05:32am
Prince of Wales sends his congratulations
05:31am
The celebrations begin
Some great images from England’s celebrations in front of their fans at the Azteca.
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England’s players line up to sing Wonderwall - Daniel Becerril/Reuters
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Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon were two of England’s best performers - Daniel Becerril/Reuters
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Harry Kane scored his sixth goal of the tournament - Nick Potts/PA
05:26am
Pickford on a much-improved performance
05:23am
Tuchel not happy with the officials
05:20am
Bellingham on his crucial clearance
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Mexico could have equalised before half time - Nick Potts/PA
05:16am
Bellingham: ‘England of the past would have crumbled’
England are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after a monumental effort against Mexico at the Azteca, where they overcame the elements, a red card and a partisan crowd in a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Jude Bellingham scored twice in a man of the match performance, with Harry Kane scoring what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot.
Asked to sum up his emotions after the game, Bellingham said: “Hard to gather it all together really. With 10 men defending how we defended our box, being clinical how we were in their box.
“Big pressure moments in years gone by watching as a fan, as a kid, England probably would have crumbled but we stuck together until the last second.
“The players who came on, the players that started, running themselves into the ground and giving everything. That is what what this team is about.
“The atmosphere was by far the best I have played against in international football. This country as a footballing country is magnificent. The reception we had coming off the plane, although it was hostile, it was beautiful to see how passionate one country can be about their team.
“The refereeing decisions, it is what it is. It’s the World Cup and they are human too. As easy as it is to say now, they are human, we made a lot more than they did, but no worries we got through.”
Some people really thought he shouldn't be starting for England️ pic.twitter.com/sWcM0YIIeM
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) July 6, 2026
The madness continued after the game, with Kane losing his voice completely in his post-match interview and Jordan Henderson injuring his wrist after falling
Police deployed 7,500 officers to the Azteca, in the biggest operation ever seen for an England football match. The Azteca was the site of chaotic scenes during the opening game of the tournament and there was one police officer on duty for every 10 fans at this morning’s game.
Four Mexican fans died in a crush last week after the team’s victory against Ecuador, when more than a million people gathered to celebrate.
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