World Cup 2026 Round of 16: England Stuns Mexico at the Azteca, Spain Ends Ronaldo’s World Cup Career

Published July 7, 2026

Recap of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16: England beat Mexico 3-2 in a 10-man thriller at Estadio Azteca, while Spain eliminated Portugal 1-0, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 delivered two of the most dramatic results of the tournament so far. On one side of the bracket, England survived a red card and a raucous Mexico City crowd to win a classic at the Estadio Azteca. On the other, Spain snatched a stoppage-time winner in Dallas to send Cristiano Ronaldo into World Cup retirement. Here’s a full breakdown of both matches, the key moments, and what comes next in the knockout stage.

Mexico 2-3 England: A 10-Man Classic at the Azteca

Few Round of 16 matches this year have matched the chaos of Mexico’s clash with England at the historic Estadio Azteca. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Mexico looked to continue its unbeaten run through the group stage and knockout rounds, but England ultimately prevailed 3-2 in a match packed with goals, a red card, and two penalties.

How the match unfolded:

• England raced into a two-goal lead when Jude Bellingham scored twice in the space of just 98 seconds during the first half — the first player to score two goals at the Azteca in a World Cup match since Diego Maradona in 1986.
• Mexico hit back before the break through Julian Quinones, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at halftime.
• The match swung dramatically in the second half when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on Jesus Gallardo, leaving England to play more than half an hour with 10 men.
• Despite the man disadvantage, England extended their lead when Harry Kane converted a penalty after Anthony Gordon was fouled in the box — Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament.
• Raul Jimenez pulled one back from the spot for Mexico to make it 3-2, setting up a nerve-shredding final 20 minutes plus stoppage time.
• England’s defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, held firm under sustained Mexican pressure to seal the win.

The result handed Mexico their first-ever World Cup defeat at the Estadio Azteca and ended the co-hosts’ run in the tournament after four matches. It also allowed England to shake off painful memories of their last visit to the stadium — a 1986 quarterfinal loss to Argentina remembered for Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal.

England now advances to face Norway, led by Erling Haaland, in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Miami.

Spain also ended the game with 1.77 expected goals across 15 shots (six on target), per data-tracking platform FotMob. Portugal had just 0.60 on 10 shots, though only Ronaldo’s two hit the target.

La Furia Roja will now meet either USA or Belgium in the quarterfinals. USA and Belgium battle in the Round of 16 Monday night.

Ronaldo recently said this would be his last World Cup, so his lengthy resume will not feature the prestigious trophy. He scored a brace vs. Uzbekistan and a penalty vs. Croatia to end the tournament with three goals.

Lionel Messi, 39, is currently on seven goals as reigning champions Argentina take on Mohamed Salah Egypt on Tuesday. Messi’s World Cup title pursuit ended at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but the chase for a second is still on.

Portugal 0-1 Spain: Ronaldo’s Final World Cup Ends in Heartbreak

In Dallas, Spain edged past Portugal 1-0 in a tense, tightly contested Round of 16 match that brought an end to Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied World Cup career. Ronaldo had confirmed before kickoff that this tournament would be his last, and despite a spirited effort from Portugal, the sides remained deadlocked until deep into second-half stoppage time.

Key moments from the match:

• Both teams created early chances, with Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa producing a string of important saves to keep the scoreline level.
• Ronaldo had two shots on target during the match, including a well-struck effort that was denied by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
• Portugal’s best chance to take the lead came when a deflected effort from Nuno Mendes cannoned off the crossbar.
• The decisive moment arrived in the first minute of second-half stoppage time: substitute Ferran Torres slipped a pass into the box, and fellow substitute Mikel Merino finished coolly to give Spain a 1-0 lead.
• The goal proved to be the winner, sending Spain through to the quarterfinals and eliminating Portugal — and Ronaldo — from the tournament.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo had said this would mark his final World Cup appearance, closing out a tournament career that included becoming the first man to score in six different World Cup editions. Spain, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run and continued their strong defensive form throughout the competition.

Spain will next face the winner of the USA-Belgium Round of 16 match in the quarterfinals.

What’s Next in the World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

With both matches decided, the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal picture continues to take shape. England will meet Norway on Saturday in Miami, while Spain awaits the winner of USA vs. Belgium. Fans can expect the knockout rounds to intensify as the tournament heads toward its championship match, scheduled for July 19.

Quick recap:

• Mexico 2-3 England — Bellingham brace, Kane penalty; England advance to face Norway
• Portugal 0-1 Spain — Late Merino goal ends Ronaldo’s World Cup career; Spain advance