Bellingham: ‘We stuck together until the last second’

It was a historic night for the Three Lions as they beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the famous Azteca Stadium to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals.

Jude Bellingham scored his third and fourth goals of the tournament - within 90 seconds of each other - to give England a commanding 2-0 lead after a cagey opening period.

Mexico pulled one back before Bellingham showcased his defensive qualities with a heroic last-ditch tackle in the six-yard box to prevent a Mexico equaliser.

Although England were reduced to ten men when Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute, Harry Kane’s penalty restored the Three Lions’ two-goal cushion.

Mexico got another one back through Raul Jimenez’s penalty, but England held on during a dramatic end to the game to book their place in the next round, where they will face Norway.

England handled ‘big pressure moments’

“Hard to put it all together, really,” Bellingham said after the match. “With ten men, defending like we did around our box, and being clinical when we got into theirs in big pressure moments.

“Maybe in years gone by, and I know especially me watching as a fan when I was a kid, England would have crumbled. But this team stuck together right until the last second.

“The players who came on, the players who started, all of them running themselves into the ground, putting their bodies on the line. That’s what this team is about.”

Bellingham tackle ‘as important as the goals’

The midfielder also spoke about his crucial challenge on the stroke of half time that prevented Mexico from a certain equaliser.

“At 2–1, the game was still very much alive, especially when they scored,” he explained. “The stadium felt like it had collapsed a bit at that point.

“It was probably as important as the goals. But this win is far bigger than me, it’s the players who came on, the ones who started, and the supporters who travelled and spent their hard-earned money.

“This is a team performance, and a whole country’s performance.”