Where does Mexico win rank among England’s best results?

July 6, 2026 No Comments

Where does Mexico win rank among England’s best results?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jude Bellingham scored twice for England in the 3-2 win against MexicoPublished38 minutes agoEngland overcame Mexico’s home advantage, vociferous fans and the much-documented altitude to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.Despite the Three Lions being bookmakers and statistical favourites to win at the Azteca, the conditions had led many to believe Mexico would prevail.It is only the second time England have beaten the World Cup hosts, joining the 1954 victory over Switzerland.And they did it with 10 men, after Jarell Quansah’s 54th-minute red card during an incredible game of relentless drama.So where does this rank among England’s greatest results away from home – and where does it sit among their best results anywhere?Let’s run through some of the contenders and you can have your say below.World Cup 2026 knockout path

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Mexico 2-3 England (2026)

Mexico had played 89 competitive games at the Azteca before this match and had only lost twice – to Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013 (both World Cup qualifiers).

They had won 16 and drawn six of their 22 matches at the legendary stadium in Mexico City since that last defeat.

And their four games – all at home – in this World Cup had yielded four wins and four clean sheets.

On top of all that the team ranked 10th in the world were used to the altitude – the stadium is 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level – which can make breathing tougher without enough time in advance of the game in which to adjust.

But England won in epic fashion thanks to Jude Bellingham’s first-half double and Harry Kane’s penalty, despite Quansah seeing red with the score 2-1 early in the second half.

A win for the ages.

Spain 2-3 England (2018)

England players celebrate a goal against Spain — Image caption,

England stunned Spain in Seville with Raheem Sterling netting a first-half double to give them a 3-0 lead

This may ‘only’ have been in the Nations League – but Spain had not lost a home competitive game in 15 years before England went to Seville.

They had also never conceded three goals in a competitive game in Spain before.

But the Three Lions led 3-0 at half-time through Raheem Sterling’s double and Marcus Rashford’s goal in between.

Spain scored twice in the second half via Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos to take some of the gloss off the scoreline – but it was still a mightily impressive win for Gareth Southgate’s side.

Germany 1-5 England (2001)

Scoreboard showing Germany 1-5 England — Image caption,

England’s 5-1 win in Germany remains iconic

This is perhaps the first result that will come to many England fans’ minds when they think of great away wins.

Michael Owen scored a hat-trick as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side stunned Germany with a 5-1 victory in Munich.

Carsten Jancker had given the hosts the lead in the World Cup qualifier before Owen’s blitz and further goals from Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey.

The margin of the victory was key, with England pipping Germany to top spot on goal difference and the only automatic spot.

It is one of only four World Cup qualifiers Germany have ever lost home or away.

Italy 0-0 England (1997)

Paul Ince with a bloodied shirt and head bandage — Image caption,

This picture of Paul Ince sums up England’s battling qualities that day

You might expect all our selections to be victories, but this draw is right up there among England’s finest away performances.

Back in the days when England could not just walk through World Cup qualification, Glenn Hoddle’s side went to Rome needing at least a draw to seal their place in France ’98.

They got it thanks to a 0-0 result of composure and organisation that consigned Italy to the play-offs and took England back to the World Cup having missed USA ’94.

Ian Wright hit the post and Italy’s Christian Vieri flashed a late header just wide, but the game is arguably most remembered for images of Paul Ince’s bloodied shirt and head bandage.

Hungary 1-3 England (1981)

Image caption,

Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking scored the goals at the Nepstadion in Budapest

In an era when Hungary were World Cup regulars, England travelled to Budapest needing to win for their own qualification hopes.

In front of 70,000 fans, Ron Greenwood’s side won 3-1, with Trevor Brooking scoring twice – either side of Imre Garaba’s equaliser – and Kevin Keegan converting a penalty.

Brooking’s second goal is best remembered for getting lodged in the stanchion in the top corner of the net.

Scotland 0-5 England (1888)

Is this a token effort so people don’t ask why the list ignores the first century or so of football? Not for us to say.

Anyway…

England’s only two wins in their first 16 fixtures with Scotland were friendlies and at home.

So it was a big deal when they hammered their old rivals in the British Home Championship 5-0 at Hampden Park in 1888, before England even had a football league.

Fred Dewhurst scored twice with goals for Tinsley Lindley, Dennis Hodgetts and John Goodall.

What information do we collect from this quiz?

What about some of England’s other big wins?

Geoff Hurst scores against West Germany — Image caption,

There was no VAR or goalline technology to assess if Geoff Hurst’s goal against West Germany should have stood

We have charted the best away wins so far – but that excludes some of England’s most impressive results… including the undoubted number one.

That is of course England’s World Cup triumph in 1966, when they beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley.

Geoff Hurst hit a hat-trick – the only one for a winning team in a World Cup final.

Some of England’s most memorable wins have come at home in major tournaments.

At Euro 96 they famously beat the Netherlands 4-1 to reach the knockout stages at Wembley and give fans real hope they could be contenders for the tournament.

And at Euro 2020, held in 2021 across Europe, they beat Germany 2-0 at Wembley to reach the quarter-finals.

And what about games on neutral soil? In the 2002 World Cup, England beat another of their old rivals, Argentina, 1-0 in the group stage in Japan thanks to David Beckham’s penalty.

Among other memorable World Cup victories are a 3-1 win over France in 1982 – including Bryan Robson’s goal after 27 seconds – as well as Gary Lineker’s hat-trick in a vital 3-0 over Poland in 1986 and a penalty shootout win over Colombia in 2018.

At Euro 2004 when England beat Croatia 4-2 with teenager Wayne Rooney scoring twice, anything felt possible.

And if we go further back, let’s not forget the 9-3 win over Scotland in a 1961 British Home Championship game at Wembley with Jimmy Greaves scoring a hat-trick.

Where do you think the Mexico win ranks among those?

What information do we collect from this quiz?

Have we missed any obvious ones? Let us know in the comments below.

Where does Mexico win rank among England’s best results?

Mexico 2-3 England (2026)

Spain 2-3 England (2018)

Germany 1-5 England (2001)

Italy 0-0 England (1997)

Hungary 1-3 England (1981)

Scotland 0-5 England (1888)

What about some of England’s other big wins?

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Mexico 2-3 England (2026)

Spain 2-3 England (2018)

Germany 1-5 England (2001)

Italy 0-0 England (1997)

Hungary 1-3 England (1981)

Scotland 0-5 England (1888)

What about some of England’s other big wins?

Related topics

Related Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply