MEXICO CITY — England defeated Mexico 2-1 on July 5, 2026, in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup. The match took place at Mexico City Stadium, where England led 2-1 at halftime to advance to the quarterfinals. Kickoff was delayed by one hour due to thunderstorms.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham scored both goals for England in the first half. His first goal, a header from a cross by Bukayo Saka, occurred in the 36th minute. Bellingham scored his second goal in the 38th minute, following a give-and-go play with Harry Kane. The interval between Bellingham's two goals was 98 seconds.

Julián Quiñones scored for Mexico in the 42nd minute. Bellingham's first goal marked the first time Mexico conceded a goal in the 2026 tournament. Mexico had not allowed a goal in their three group stage matches or their Round of 32 match.

An England player received a straight red card early in the second half. Security was increased outside England's team hotel in Mexico City, where Mexico fans greeted England players with boos.

Why It Matters

Jude Bellingham's two goals against Mexico represent the fastest brace by an English player in World Cup history. This performance makes him the first player to score a brace at Estadio Azteca in a World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986. His brace ranks as the third-fastest in World Cup history overall, behind Kylian Mbappé in 2022 and Toni Kroos in 2014. The goals bring Bellingham's total for England in the 2026 World Cup to four. With this victory, England progresses to the quarterfinals, while Spain remains the only team in the tournament that has not yet conceded a goal.