Mexico2–3England

Declan Rice was booked in the first minute. That set the tone.

England came to Mexico City with 33% of the ball and left with the result. Jude Bellingham put them ahead with a header from Saka's cross at 36', then two minutes later right-footed a Kane layoff into the top left corner from close range. Two goals in two minutes, both finished from practically point-blank. Mexico had been the better team for half an hour and suddenly found themselves two down.

Quiñones pulled one back at 42' from a set piece — right footed from the centre, high into the goal — and Jiménez's header at 45'+3' was tipped over by Pickford. Mexico went in at half-time with momentum and a mountain to climb.

Then the game changed shape again. VAR upgraded Jarell Quansah's yellow card to a red at 54' — England reduced to ten men for the final 36 minutes. Mexico poured forward. And somehow, Mexico's goalkeeper Raúl Rangel fouled someone in the penalty area at 58'. Kane stepped up and put it bottom left — 3-1 to England with ten men. Saka had come off for Stones at 57'; Kane was still out there making penalties look like foregone conclusions.

VAR wasn't finished. At 67', a review awarded Mexico a penalty going the other way — Guéhi booked, Jiménez scored at 69'. 2-3. Mexico had their lifeline, 21 minutes plus stoppage to find another.

They couldn't. England held shape, Pickford saved Fidalgo from outside the box at 89'. In stoppage time Bellingham — already with two goals — tried a 35-yard shot for the hat-trick. Rangel tipped it over.

3-2. England are through. Bellingham has a brace against Mexico on home soil. This tournament is genuinely wild.