Referee Alireza Faghani has detailed the unique challenges of officiating the 2026 World Cup last-16 match between Mexico and England, a clash that ended in a 2-3 win for England. The game, played on July 5th at Estadio Azteca, was marked by VAR decisions and an atmosphere the official called 'unbelievable'. Preparation for the match was complicated by a storm that delayed kick-off by an hour.
Faghani, a 48-year-old Australian-Iranian referee taking charge of his third match at his fourth World Cup, had to adjust his physical and nutritional schedule. The uncertainty over the start time was total, as FIFA had considered bringing kick-off forward by six hours due to extreme weather warnings. Those plans were shelved after then British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised concerns it would favour the hosts. The match finally started at 6 p.m. At the altitude of the Azteca, 2,240 metres above sea level, a fortress where Mexico had not lost a competitive game since 2013.
The match, managed by Thomas Tuchel for England, began with boos for the visitors. Jude Bellingham scored a brace to make it 0-2, but Mexico responded with a goal for 1-2. Controversy erupted in the 52nd minute. After a foul by Mexican left-back Jesús Gallardo on England defender Jarell Quansah, Faghani initially allowed play to continue. The VAR official, Nicolás Gallo Barragán, instructed him to review the incident at the monitor. After the review, Faghani changed his decision and showed a straight red card to Quansah. Later, Harry Kane converted a penalty for England after contact with the Mexican goalkeeper, making it 1-3.
The final major VAR intervention came with another penalty. Kane kicked a Mexican player's leg in the box, an action initially not given as a foul. After another review, the decision was overturned and a penalty was awarded to Mexico, which was converted for the final 2-3 scoreline. The match ended in the 102nd minute. After the game, Tuchel openly criticised the officiating. "The referees are just not good enough, fourth officials are just not good enough. That’s the bottom line," the German manager said. He specifically questioned whether the VAR intervention for the Mexican penalty met the threshold for a clear and obvious error.
This last-16 defeat, recorded as Mexico 2-3 England on July 6, 2026, is part of the team's recent history. Their form in the last five matches is four wins and one loss (LWWWW). In the World Cup group stage, the Mexican national team finished first with 9 points, after three wins in three games. They scored 6 goals and conceded none, with a +6 goal difference, giving them a 5-point lead over South Africa. The team now prepares for its next fixture, a home friendly against Colombia on September 26, a match listed on our upcoming fixtures page. Fans can follow the team's progress in the league standings and check the full squad list for the new cycle.
