​Jude Bellingham congratulated Harry Kane after the England captain’s third goal, a decisive strike at the Estadio Azteca as England edged past Mexico to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. In a dramatic clash in Mexico City, England, reduced to ten men, battled to a 3-2 victory that lived up to its hype. Bellingham had already put England on course with two quick goals, a 2-0 lead secured by the 38th minute. Mexico pulled one back through Julian Quinones before half-time, and a red card for England’s Jarell Quansah after a VAR review on 54 minutes shifted the momentum. England steadied themselves and extended the lead with a Harry Kane penalty to make it 3-1, only for Mexico to keep pressing and win a controversial penalty when Kane was again judged to foul Brian Gutierrez. Raul Jimenez converted to make it 3-2, creating a tense final period as England, tired but resolute, held on for a historic win. Kane described the match as chaotic, noting that England faced everything stacked against them yet found a way to win.
In the other Sunday classic, a stunning late surge from Norway toppled Brazil 2-1 to set up a quarter-final in Miami against England. Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes after Orjan Nyland had kept Norway in the match with a vital first-half save from Bruno Guimaraes. Haaland’s goals brought him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament, and Nyland’s stop gave Norway belief before the Norwegian captain headed home the opener and Haaland added a second from the edge of the area to seal the upset. Neymar salvaged some pride for Brazil with a late penalty, but the comeback came too late and ended Brazil’s quest for a sixth world title. Brazil, chasing their first World Cup since 2002, were eliminated by European opposition for the sixth straight time in this tournament, marking their earliest exit in a World Cup since 1990.
The day’s events were not just about the matches; off-field intrigue rose with reports surrounding U.S. striker Folarin Balogun and an intervention that sparked a political uproar earlier in the week.