England's captain Harry Kane could hardly find words after the Three Lions fought hard to beat Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match. This victory secured their spot in the quarter-finals after one of the most exciting games of the tournament.
After celebrating with his teammates by singing Wonderwall in the dressing room, Kane struggled to express the feelings of a fantastic night at the famous Mexico City Stadium. England faced tough competition, a challenging crowd, and a red card in the second half, but they managed to advance to meet Norway in the next round.
“It was a crazy game,” Kane said, smiling. “We had to find something… We found a way. We had incredible, unbelievable support from the fans. I’m speechless.”
Kane’s reaction showed how important this win was for England after a match that will go down as one of the best in the 2026 World Cup.
The Three Lions looked set for victory when Jude Bellingham scored two quick goals, putting England 2-0 up. But Mexico came back with a goal, and England's situation became tougher in the second half when Jarell Quansah received a red card, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s team with 10 men.
Even with a player down, England stood firm. Kane skillfully scored a penalty to make it 3-1, but the excitement did not stop there.
Kane then gave away a penalty at the other end, allowing Raul Jimenez to make it 3-2, leading to a tense finish.
But England defended strongly, showing resilience and determination to hold off Mexico's pressure and claim a significant win.
Kane praised his teammates, saying every player pushed hard to get through a tough match. “Every individual player had to dig deep and find something deep within themselves to get us through. There were so many heroes out there. I’m just so proud of the team and the way they fought. We found a way to get through it together. What a special night.
“We speak a lot about togetherness and desire and working for each other. But ultimately, you can talk, but you have to prove it. There’s no bigger test than being here, away from home, against Mexico, and having to fight through so many adversities. It just brings you closer together; more memories, more feelings, more emotions. I just can’t wait to enjoy this over the next couple of days with the boys.”
This win was even more impressive given Mexico's strong history at the stadium. Before this match, El Tri had played 10 World Cup games in Mexico City without losing.
England's manager Thomas Tuchel also recognized how big this win was. He praised the players for not giving up despite facing many challenges during the game. “I’m very proud,” Tuchel said. “It was super-difficult. In the moments we thought we caught the momentum, we had setbacks. But when the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. We need to take this in. It was a crazy, crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. It was one step more. Now it’s full steam ahead.”
England now faces Norway in the quarter-finals at Miami Stadium on Saturday, 11 July.
Norway earned their spot after a stunning 2-1 win against Brazil, thanks to star striker Erling Haaland's impressive goals.
Kane acknowledged the challenge ahead but wanted his teammates to enjoy their unforgettable win over Mexico first. “It will be a tough game. They are a really good team with some dangerous players. They proved that they had a great win today.
“For now, let’s just enjoy this one [the win against Mexico]. Then the prep will start as usual, and it’ll be another great game.”
Kane’s winning penalty also brought his total to six goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, boosting his chances for the Golden Boot as England aims for their first World Cup title since 1966.
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