Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium has been a graveyard for visiting teams for decades. But on Sunday, England walked in, took the punch, and walked out with a 3-2 win that sent Mexico home from their own World Cup.
The loss was only Mexico’s third competitive defeat at the Azteca since the stadium opened in 1966. That’s the kind of stat that usually means a team is unbeatable at home. But England didn’t get the memo.
Jude Bellingham scored twice in three minutes during the first half, which felt like a statement against the pregame chatter about altitude and Mexico’s home crowd. Julian Quinones pulled one back before halftime, and the place started to breathe again. Then Harry Kane converted a penalty after Jarell Quansah was sent off, and Raul Jimenez answered with his own spot kick. The final 20 minutes were chaos. England held on.
Mexican media called it the most painful ‘Aztecazo’ ever
ESPN Deportes wrote that the hopes of the stadium died in the 101st minute. They said fans refused to leave, staying until the final whistle, clinging to the idea that maybe this time they’d finally knock off a powerhouse. The headline that stuck: “the most painful Aztecazo of all.”
El Universal and AS Mexico both led with that same word. AS called it “the definitive Aztecazo” and described the match as a “delirious and legendary” chapter in World Cup history. They pointed out that possession stats meant nothing in the end. Mexico dominated the ball. England dominated the scoreboard.
El Universal quoted goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who had warned the day before that clinical finishing separates the powerhouses from the rest. Bellingham’s brace proved him right.
England exorcised some ghosts, then got Norway
AS Mexico noted the irony that the Azteca, a cursed stadium for England in past tournaments, became the place where they advanced. “More English than ever,” they wrote, “by fate, climate, and crowd.”
England now faces Norway in the quarterfinals. Erling Haaland scored twice to knock out Brazil earlier in the day, so the next round won’t be any easier. But for one night, England survived a game that could have gone either way.
For Mexico, the wait continues. They haven’t reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 1986. That was also the last time they hosted the tournament. The Azteca has seen a lot of history. This was the kind that stays with you.
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