Mexico’s 2026 World Cup run ended after losing against England by a 3-2 score in a match that ended Mexico;s undefeated World Cup record in Estadio Azteca. Once again Mexico fell in the Round of 16, although unlike other World Cup, they did so after winning a knockout stage game, courtesy of the new Round of 32. Mexico’s World Cup still was historic and Mexico will finish in the Top 10 of the tournament for only the third time in their history. The defeat ends the tenure of Javier Aguirre as National team coach as assistant coach Rafael Marquez is set to take over the helm of the team.
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with the same starting lineup they had against Ecuador while England made some changes. Mexico dominated possession at the start against an England side that was sitting back and defending well. A cross into the area was headed by Raul Jimenez but England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, made a fantastic save. A right footed shot from Gilberto Mora would be blocked by England’s defense. Anthony Gordon would make a good play and get past Jorge Sanchez before getting off a low shot that was saved by Mexico’s goalkeeper, Raul Rangel. From outside the area, Luis Romo got off a right footed shot that went wide. A cross into the area was just out of reach from Jimenez and Pickford would get into the ball. Off the ensuing counter, a great cross from Bukayo Saka would find a wide open Jude Bellingham, who would get a close range header past Rangel to score and give England the 1-0 lead. Against the run of play, England would score first, something that Mexico knew was key in not being allowed. A minute after the goal, a bad loss of the ball by Mora would allow a counter in which a cross into the area would find Jude Bellingham, who would score from close range past Rangel to give England the 2-0 lead. In two minutes, England had completely changed things. Off a free kick, the cross from Roberto Alvarado would get into the area, where it was deflected into the path of Julian Quiñones, who got off a great right footed volley past Pickford to score and place the score at 2-1. A lifeline had come to Mexico with the first set piece goal for Mexico in the World Cup. A cross into the area was lowered by Quiñones into the path of Jimenez but his left footed shot went wide. A cross into the area was headed brilliantly by Jimenez but Pickford made another great save. Off a corner kick, the cross was headed by Jimenez into the path of Cesar Montes, but as he was going to get off a shot, Bellingham made a fantastic clearance. While Mexico had done a great final push, the halftime whistle blew and England would take their lead to the halftime break.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Cesar Montes for Edson Alvarez. A low cross from Nico O’reilly would be just out of reach from a close range chance from Harry Kane. A left footed shot in the area from O’reilly would go past Rangel and hit the post. After a harsh tackle on Jesus Gallardo by Jarrell Quansah, the referee would go to VAR and decided to give a red card to the English player, in a totally deserved call. England would sub out Bukayo Saka for John Stones. A longball that Kane deflected into the path of Gordon, who got into the area and was dropped by Rangel, which made the referee gave a Penalty Kick. It was a bad mistake from Alvarez, who failed to clear the ball and allowed Kane to deflect it into the area, where Gordon easily went past Sanchez before Rangel got to him. Harry Kane stepped up and got off a solid right footed shot past Rangel to score and give England the 3-1 lead. Mexico subbed out Luis Romo and Gilberto Mora for Brian Gutierrez and Santiago Gimenez. Off a clearance, Gutierrez would apparently be kicked by Kane, as he tried to clear the ball. Although nothing was given, the ref would go to VAR and give a PK to Mexico. Raul Jimenez stepped up to take the PK and got off a right footed shot past Pickford to score and place the score at 3-2. One of the best ever PK takers in Mexican history (if not the best), had finally scored a PK in a World Cup. England subbed out Nico O’reilly and Elliot Anderson for Djed Spence and Dan Burn. The defensive moves looked like if England was going to sit back and bunker against a Mexican side that had a man advantage. A great cross into the area from Gallardo was just cleared by Spence before a Mexican attacker could get off a volley. Mexico subbed out Jorge Sanchez for Alvaro Fidalgo. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area would just be missed by Alvarez from getting to a header. Mexico subbed out Julian Quiñonez for Guillermo Martinez. A cross into the area by Fidalgo would be volleyed by Gimenez but it would go wide. A right footed shot from outside the area by Fidalgo was easily saved by Pickford. England subbed out Harry Kane for Morgan Rogers. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Jimenez. A corner kick cross would be missed by Gallardo and the ball would bounce off Martinez to Pickford. Gimenez would injure himself and need medical attention outside the field, missing the final minutes. A cross into the area would almost be deflected into his own net by Stones. Mexico kept pushing for the tying goal but they would fail to get it and England would get the victory and the ticket to the Quarterfinals.
Mexico gave a valiant effort but once again it was not enough to move to the Quarterfinals. For the first time ever in a World Cup game, Mexico lost in Estadio Azteca. Mexico had one of the greatest World Cup performances but they failed to make it to the Top 8th although they did finally play the Quinto Partido (Fifth game) courtesy of the extra round. Mexico had the home advantage and a man advantage but failed to beat England, who gave a great performance. The match against Mexico will become a classic for England, in maybe their best win in a World Cup since 2018. While Mexico was the better team, overall they failed to overcome the better players, especially a Jude Bellingham who was outstanding. Mexico’s talent gap came up again as it had done in prior exits on the Round of 16, against superior teams like Brazil, the Netherlands and Argentina. Still Mexico gave a great performance as they did in every match. Mexico finally won a knockout match after dominating Ecuador and got 4 victories, the most ever in a World Cup. They will also finish in 9th place, the third time ever they finish in the Top 10 of a World Cup. Overall it was a great tournament especially for a team that came in heavily criticized coming into the year and who only just now had their first loss of 2026.
