Aguirre apologizes as Mexico exit World Cup 3-2 to England
Synopsis
Mexico's best World Cup run in four decades ended not with a triumph but with an apology. Aguirre's side had gone four matches without conceding, then shipped three in one night — and he took all the blame, shielding his players and backing Rafael Marquez to finish what he could not.
Key Takeaways
Mexico lost 3-2 to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 on 6 July at Mexico City Stadium .
The defeat ended Mexico's bid for a first World Cup quarterfinal since 1986 .
Jude Bellingham scored twice in three first-half minutes; Harry Kane added a penalty in the second half.
Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half, but England held on despite being a man down.
Javier Aguirre ends his tenure with 21 wins , 8 draws , and 5 losses after taking charge in July 2024 .
Assistant coach Rafael Marquez is set to succeed Aguirre as Mexico's head coach.
Javier Aguirre issued a public apology to Mexico's supporters after the national side's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign came to a close with a 3-2 defeat to England in the round of 16 on Sunday, 6 July at Mexico City Stadium. The result ended Mexico's hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarterfinal since 1986 and confirmed Aguirre's departure as head coach.
How the match unfolded
Jude Bellingham put England in command with two goals in the space of three first-half minutes, leaving Mexico staring at a 2-0 deficit. Julian Quinones pulled one back to give the hosts brief hope before the interval.
The contest shifted further when Jarell Quansah's early second-half dismissal reduced England to ten men, but Harry Kane converted from the penalty spot to restore the two-goal cushion. Raul Jimenez's late strike from 12 yards narrowed the margin to one, but Mexico could not find an equaliser to force extra time.
What Aguirre said
'We weren't able to give the people one more night of happiness and joy,' Aguirre said. 'I'd like to thank the fans who came to this stadium, the other stadiums and the fan festivals.'
'The only thing I can say to the fans is I'm sorry. We left our heart and soul on the pitch,' he added.
Aguirre was candid about the margin between the two sides on the night. 'To beat England you have to play the perfect match,' he said. 'We conceded twice, fought our way back and were in good spirits, but the third goal killed us. They defend very well and have a very solid squad.'
'We made three mistakes tonight and we paid the price. They had four or five chances and we had seven or eight, but that means nothing. They made fewer mistakes than we did,' he added.
Aguirre's record and exit
Aguirre, who took charge in July 2024, ends his tenure with 21 wins, eight draws, and five losses. Notably, Mexico had entered the round of 16 on the back of four consecutive victories without conceding a single goal — making Sunday's defensive lapses all the more costly.
Aguirre was emphatic that his players bore no responsibility. 'Those 26 players made me very happy. They have to hold their heads high. If there's anyone to criticize, criticize the head coach. They left everything on the pitch,' he said.
What comes next for El Tri
Aguirre backed his assistant and successor Rafael Marquez to take the team to greater heights. Marquez, a Mexican football icon, inherits a squad that showed defensive resilience through the group stage but was ultimately undone by individual errors at the knockout stage. The transition to his tenure will be watched closely as Mexico prepares for future campaigns.
Point of View
Zero goals conceded. That record made Sunday's three-goal collapse against England all the more jarring, and it points to a structural vulnerability: the ability to defend deep and absorb pressure does not automatically translate into resilience under the specific pressure of a knockout match against a set-piece-and-penalty threat like England. Aguirre's decision to absorb all blame is admirable, but the harder question for Marquez is whether this squad's ceiling has been reached or whether the group-stage form was the real Mexico. The 1986 quarterfinal drought is now in its fifth decade — and closing it will require more than a change of coach.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Mexico vs England in the 2026 World Cup?
England defeated Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16 on 6 July at Mexico City Stadium . Jude Bellingham scored twice before half-time, Harry Kane added a penalty, and late goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez were not enough for Mexico.
Why did Javier Aguirre apologize after the match?
Aguirre apologized to Mexican fans for failing to advance past the round of 16, saying the team 'left their heart and soul on the pitch' but made critical errors that England punished. He took personal responsibility and asked fans to direct any criticism at him rather than his players.
Who will replace Aguirre as Mexico's head coach?
Rafael Marquez, who served as Aguirre's assistant coach, is set to succeed him. Aguirre publicly backed Marquez to take the team to greater heights.
When did Mexico last reach the World Cup quarterfinals?
Mexico last reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 1986 , when they co-hosted the tournament. Sunday's defeat to England extended that drought to four decades.
What was Mexico's record under Aguirre before the tournament exit?
Aguirre, who took charge in July 2024, led Mexico to 21 wins, 8 draws, and 5 losses overall. In the 2026 World Cup, Mexico won all four of its previous matches without conceding a goal before the round-of-16 defeat.
