Scoring twice, Bellingham became the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to net a brace at the venue, propelling England into the World Cup quarterfinals.
England advances after thriller at Azteca
England secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals following a high-stakes match against co-hosts Mexico at Azteca Stadium. The 3-2 win marks the third consecutive tournament in which the Three Lions have reached the final eight. The path to victory was complicated by a red card issued to Jarell Quansah less than 10 minutes into the second half, forcing England to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Bellingham’s performance drew significant attention as he scored two goals in under two minutes midway through the first half. While Harry Kane successfully converted a second-half penalty, Mexico remained competitive, with goals from Julian Quinones in the 42nd minute and Raul Jimenez in the 69th minute.
Post-match exchange with Gilberto Mora
Following the final whistle, Bellingham was seen approaching Mexico’s 17-year-old midfielder, Gilberto Mora. The two players swapped jerseys and shared a moment of consolation as they walked toward the tunnel. Mora has been a breakout figure during the 2026 tournament, becoming Mexico’s youngest-ever World Cup player and the second-youngest player to start a knockout match behind Pele.
For more on this story, see France vs Morocco: World Cup Quarterfinals Preview.
The teenager, who currently plays for Club Tijuana in Liga MX, has reportedly attracted interest from several major European clubs, including Real Madrid—Bellingham’s current team—along with Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Milan, and Barcelona.
Bellingham’s trajectory with Real Madrid and England
Jude Bellingham’s rise to international prominence began early. Born in Stourbridge, England, in 2003, he became the youngest first-team player for Birmingham City at age 16 in August 2019. His career progressed through Borussia Dortmund, where he won the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal and earned Bundesliga Player of the Season honors for the 2022–23 campaign, before completing a €103 million transfer to Real Madrid.
Since joining the Spanish club, his accolades have mounted. He was named La Liga Player of the Season and has been included in the FIFPRO World 11 for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025. In 2024, he finished third in voting for both the Ballon d’Or and The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
Quarterfinal matchup against Norway
England’s next challenge is a quarterfinal match against Norway, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Norway reached this stage following a victory over Brazil, in which Erling Haaland scored both of the team’s goals.
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