Anthony Gordon reflects on transformative match against Mexico

England midfielder Anthony Gordon has described his experience playing against Mexico during the 2026 World Cup as “the greatest experience of my life.” Reflecting on the match ahead of the UEFA Nations League, the Barcelona player noted that the intense encounter served as a turning point for the England squad under manager Thomas Tuchel.

Gordon explained that a red card issued to teammate Jarell Quansah forced the team to abandon their preferred style of play in favor of a more combative approach. “The red card made us show a different facet of ourselves; we were no longer the team that wanted to play beautifully, we needed to fight tooth and nail to get the victory,” Gordon said.

He also addressed a lighthearted interaction with then-Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who had jokingly insulted him during the match. Gordon characterized the exchange as “fun” and noted that the 3-2 victory in Mexico City helped shape the team's competitive identity during the tournament.