England defeated Mexico 3-1 in a dramatic World Cup round-of-16 match at the Azteca Stadium on July 6, 2026.
The Three Lions played with 10 men for over 30 minutes after a red card and also conceded a controversial penalty.
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Jude Bellingham scored twice in the first half to give England a 2-0 lead. Julian Quinones pulled one back for Mexico just before halftime.
England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute after a VAR review showed his studs hitting Jesus Gallardo.
Referee Alireza Faghani initially showed a yellow card but upgraded it to red after checking the pitchside monitor.
Harry Kane extended England's lead to 3-1 from the penalty spot. However, Mexico were awarded a second-half penalty after Kane was judged to have fouled Brian Gutierrez.
Faghani again used the monitor to make the call.
Former assistant referee Darren Cann, who worked the 2010 World Cup final, said the red card was clear.
"Quansah does play the ball first but that doesn't matter in the laws of the game," Cann told BBC One.
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"He goes through and you can clearly see the studs on the shin. The referee has no choice but to show the red card.
100% a red card."
Cann also supported the penalty against Kane. "It is a penalty," he said.
"Kane unfortunately does kick the Mexico player's foot.
It is a little bit similar to the [Luka] Modric kick which England got a penalty for in the first group game."
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed with all three major decisions. "I think the referee has come to the right decision on all three," Hart said.
"As soon as I saw the replays, my heart was in my mouth.
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Quansah deserved to go, Kane didn't get the ball and Gordon got to the ball first."
