Thomas Tuchel enthusiastically celebrated the classification of England to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup after defeating 3-2 Mexico at the Azteca stadium. The German coach assured that the victory felt “like winning the final” due to the difficulty of the scenario, the level of the rival and the circumstances that his team faced during the match.
The coach highlighted that England showed character, unity and mental strength to overcome the pressure of the local fans, the altitude of Mexico City and the expulsion of Jarell Quansah in the second half. In his opinion, these conditions made the victory have special value and he described it as a “heroic” result.
Tuchel also highlighted the historical significance of winning at the Azteca stadium, a venue where England had experienced one of the most memorable episodes in its World Cup history with the elimination against Argentina in 1986. He noted that the team managed to “make peace” with that past by beating the Mexican team this time.
Despite the joy at progressing to the next round, the coach expressed concern about the injury of Jordan Henderson, who suffered a broken wrist while celebrating the victory. Likewise, he had words of recognition for Mexico and its fans, stating that it is “an incredible country” and that he understood the pain of elimination.
With the ticket to the quarterfinals secured, Tuchel announced that he will dedicate the next 24 hours to rest before beginning preparation for the duel against Norway.
