IT WAS no coincidence that one of the best games of the 2026 World Cup so far came at Mexico’s marquee stadium, the Azteca.

Mexico had been somewhat forgotten in the build-up to the tournament amid the predictable focus on the United States, but ended up being arguably the best of the host nations. Their last-16 match against England demonstrated everything that has been good about their involvement, even in defeat.

Other co-hosts Canada were unfortunate that their games moved out of their home country, despite qualifying from the group stage in second place and despite having two home venues that could have facilitated a knockout path of home games. They still embarked on a groundbreaking World Cup, which saw them win their first-ever games at a finals tournament and progress to the knockout rounds for the first time.

The US were going well on the pitch until Donald Trump got involved in football matters. White House policy had already seriously affected this tournament off the pitch, but the president’s meddling to encourage Fifa to suspend the one-match ban for striker Folarin Balogun, following his red card against Bosnia, brought the US portion of the tournament further into disrepute.

Like Mexico, the US faced a tough, higher-ranked opponent in the last 16 in the shape of Belgium, but unlike Mexico, they couldn’t put up a fight. Their president’s antics and the controversy around that clearly affected them as Belgium won convincingly and mocked Trump in their post-match celebrations.

Mexico, however, did put up a fight, as was expected prior to their game against England. It was an occasion that ended up being the most-watched football match ever on TV in the US. 

The final numbers are yet to come through, but even the usually conservative preliminary viewing figures have it eclipsing all previous football matches when the figures from Fox and Telemundo are combined.

Telemundo have been one of the success stories of this tournament, with even some English-language viewers opting for the Spanish-language channel over Fox. 

Legendary commentator Andres Cantor leads the way with his inimitable style, and even if you don’t understand Spanish, there is a rhythm to the commentary that follows the flow of the game, which means you don’t need to.

Mexico versus England featured many sporting moments for Cantor to respond to, from Bellingham’s two goals in two minutes, to Jarell Quansah’s red card and the all-important penalty from Harry Kane shortly after. 

England hunkered down and the approach of defending in numbers in order to repeatedly clear the ball from Mexico attacks, epitomised by Dan Burn, worked surprisingly well.

Away from that, an interaction between Mexico coach Javier Aguirre and Anthony Gordon has ended up being one of the moments of the tournament for the montage makers. At least for online media, anyway, as the somehow jocular “F*** you” from Aguirre to Gordon mid-game, followed by the Mexico coach’s exaggerated laughter and Gordon’s own laughter in response, might be too sweary to make the BBC or ITV end-of-tournament films. Telemundo may include it, though.

Mexico captured the imaginations of fans across the continent. From wherever you were watching the games, you could already feel this atmosphere in their first knockout match victory against Ecuador. El Tri had already used their home advantage well, progressing through the group with minimal fuss and without conceding a goal.

They might have been fancied against many of the teams remaining in the World Cup at the last-16 stage. Indeed, many fancied them against England, which is what made this such an intriguing spectacle, and such a momentous, memorable win for Thomas Tuchel’s side when they finally did get over the line.

Despite the pre-match talk almost building them up as favourites, it was still one of the toughest last-16 ties Mexico could have been handed. This is a strong and talented England team who, at least up until now, have demonstrated strength and talent when it matters.

Not only that, but England showed they can do the difficult stuff, too. And it doesn’t come much harder than being down to 10 men in the now infamous Azteca altitude following a delayed kick-off, ending the game with what felt like an age of added time to play.

Kane was substituted ahead of those 11 minutes of added time and at that point, Bellingham also looked out on his feet. He fell to the ground at the full-time whistle along with several other players, exhausted. 

It could take some time for the England players to recover from this match, and regardless of how far they go in this World Cup, they will be playing all subsequent matches, even beyond the tournament itself, with memories of the Azteca still in their minds and their muscles.

Mexico’s involvement in the World Cup has now ended as a host nation as well as a host team. The remainder of the games from the quarter-finals onwards will be played in the US, with neither Mexico nor Canada getting a big game in the final stages to round off their involvement. 

Even with the final to come, games at this tournament may not come much bigger, or much more entertaining in so many different ways, as Mexico v England at the Azteca. 

Mexico’s national stadium and team bowed out with their heads held high, with one of the biggest moments of any World Cup to look back upon. England will hope further progress from here means they can look back upon it even more fondly in the years to come.