Sunday marked a historic day in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. England emerged victorious over Mexico with a 3-2 scoreline at the iconic Azteca Stadium, while Norway delivered a shocking upset by defeating Brazil 2-1, creating the biggest surprise of the tournament so far.
In Azteca, the Three Lions quickly took control against El Tri. Jude Bellingham netted two goals within a mere 98 seconds, achieving the third fastest brace in World Cup history, equalling Maradona as the only player to accomplish this feat in that stadium.
Julián Quiñones managed to narrow the gap before halftime, keeping Mexican hopes alive. However, the second half took an unexpected turn when Jarell Quansah's red card left England with ten men, seemingly opening the door for a comeback.
Despite the numerical advantage, the team led by Javier Aguirre failed to capitalize. Harry Kane converted a penalty to make it 3-1, effectively sealing the match, although Raúl Jiménez responded with a penalty of his own to conclude the game at 3-2.
Mexico entered the match as the undefeated leader of Group A with seven points, having previously ousted Ecuador in the Round of 32, but they couldn't find the equalizer despite having a manpower advantage for much of the second half.
Norway's Stunning Upset Over Brazil
The other major storyline unfolded at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Norway ousted Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, in what is already being hailed as the tournament's most shocking result.
With Lucas Paquetá sidelined due to injury, the Seleção opted for an offensive strategy but found themselves thwarted by a monumental performance from goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who saved a penalty from Bruno Guimarães in the first half and held firm at key moments.
Erling Haaland was the standout player, scoring twice in the 79th and 90th minutes, with assists from Andreas Schjelderup, who had come off the bench.
Neymar's penalty in the 100th minute reduced the deficit, but it was too late to prevent a defeat that sent shockwaves through the world of soccer.
With seven goals in the tournament, Haaland is now tied with Messi and Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.
Returning to the World Cup after 28 years, Norway reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
England and Norway will face off on July 11 in Miami for a spot in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, in what promises to be one of the round's most thrilling matches.
Key Moments in the 2026 World Cup
What was the outcome of the England vs Mexico match?
England defeated Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling match at Azteca Stadium.
How did Norway manage to defeat Brazil?
Norway stunned Brazil with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland and a brace from Erling Haaland.
Who scored for England and Norway in their respective matches?
Jude Bellingham scored twice and Harry Kane added a penalty for England, while Erling Haaland scored both goals for Norway.