The Three Lions roared back into contention on Sunday night as England clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the 2026 World Cup. The rollercoaster encounter was an electrifying testament to the passion and resilience of Gareth Southgate's squad, who will now face Norway in a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown in Miami.
The tournament is building towards a thrilling crescendo, with other blockbuster fixtures confirmed or on the horizon. On Thursday, France faces off against Morocco in Boston at 9pm BST, while tonight sees the USA take on Belgium and Spain meet Portugal – the winners of these matches will set up an enticing quarter-final showdown.
This expanded World Cup, hosted across North America, has already proved to be a cracker. With 104 games on the agenda – a whopping increase of 40 from the Qatar tournament in 2022 – the action is non-stop and the drama is unfolding at breakneck pace. The iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City played host to the tournament's opening match, a venue steeped in history having witnessed two World Cup finals and some of football's most unforgettable moments, including Diego Maradona's infamous goals against England in 1986.
As we hurtle towards the quarter-finals, the United States will become the sole host for all remaining fixtures, culminating in a thrilling finale at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. With football legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo potentially bidding farewell on this grand stage, the tension is palpable – who will lift that coveted trophy? The stakes are higher than ever as we edge closer to the knockout stages.
The quarter-finals loom large, with every match now carrying monumental significance in shaping the narrative of one of the most expansive World Cups to date. England's fans, and those from Norway, Morocco, France, USA, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland, Colombia – and beyond – will be glued to their screens as the drama unfolds.
From the treacherous knockout stages onwards, nothing can be taken for granted in this unpredictable tournament. The intensity is ratcheting up by the day, with each passing match propelling us further into the cauldron of competition. As we hurtle towards the climax, one thing's for sure – it's going to be a wild ride!