Raúl Jiménez gets his dream World Cup matchup against his favorite victim: Jordan Pickford
Against England in the World Cup last 16, Raúl Jiménez comes up against a goalkeeper who has fished his shots out of the net on several occasions.
Having helped to fire Mexico past Ecuador earlier this week, striker Raúl Jiménez is now out to end El Tri’s long wait for a World Cup quarterfinal berth, as he prepares for a “special” match against England.
In the round of 16 on Sunday evening, the Mexicans take on the Three Lions at the Estadio Azteca, with the winner progressing to a last-eight matchup against Brazil or Norway.
Jiménez vs jittery Jordan
Jiménez, who has plied his club trade in England since 2018, will come up against numerous English stars who are regular Premier League opponents. They include Everton’s Jordan Pickford - a goalkeeper whose displays in North America have not fully convinced.
Most notably, Pickford was at fault during England’s narrow last-32 win over DR Congo on Wednesday. When Brian Cipenga fired Les Léopards into a surprise lead in Atlanta, the goalkeeper was criticized for allowing the winger’s seventh-minute shot to beat him at his near post.
Raúl racks them up
Not only does the England No. 1’s questionable form augur well for Mexico; so, too, does Jiménez’s career goal record against the custodian. Indeed, the forward has scored more Premier League goals against Pickford than against any other goalkeeper in the English top flight.
In all, Jiménez has netted past Pickford six times in the Premier League, across spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham. They include a run of five goals in his first five league appearances against the keeper, all scored for Wolves between August 2018 and November 2021.
Since that streak, though, Jiménez’s goal rate against Pickford has dropped more than six-fold. Either side of his 2023 transfer from Wolves to Fulham, the Mexican has made seven Premier League appearances against Pickford since March 2022, netting only once.
And, speaking to reporters on Saturday, Jiménez was circumspect about the benefits of his familiarity with the England stopper. “[Pickford] may say it’s an advantage that he knows my game so well,” said the striker, who is to rejoin Wolves this summer. “He’s a great goalkeeper - there’s a reason why he first choice for England. He’s a consistently top performer.
“But I’ve been able to score against him on several occasions in the Premier League - and I want to keep adding to that tally. Hopefully I can do that in this game.”
Raúl Jiménez’s EPL goals against Pickford:
- 1. August 11, 2018: Wolves 2-2 Everton
- 2. February 2, 2019: Everton 1-3 Wolves
- 3. September 1, 2019: Everton 3-2 Wolves
- 4. July 12, 2020: Wolves 3-0 Everton
- 5. November 1, 2021: Wolves 2-1 Everton
- 6. May 10, 2025: Fulham 1-3 Everton
England matchup “on another level”
Capped 129 times, Jiménez has racked up 47 goals for Mexico - of which two have come at the 2026 World Cup. The forward was on target in his team’s opening win over South Africa - in the first of the co-hosts’ three group-stage wins - before his fabulous finish sealed a 2-0 last-32 win over the Ecuadorians on Tuesday.
Alongside Julián Quiñones, who has three goals at the 2026 finals, Jiménez will now be Mexico’s chief attacking threat against England - a team El Tri have not met at the men’s World Cup since 1966.
“It’s a special game, because I’ve spent more than half my career in England,” Jiménez said. Asked whether it is the biggest match in Mexico’s history, he added: “It’s a hugely important game, because of how well we’re playing and what it would mean to go through to the next round. So I think so: maybe it is on another level [of significance].”
If Javier Aguirre’s men are triumphant, they will advance to the quarterfinals of a men’s World Cup for only the third time in their history - and the first in four decades.
On the two previous occasions that Mexico reached the tournament’s last eight - in 1970 and 1986 - they were also playing on home soil. This year, however, El Tri would not actually contest their quarterfinal in Mexico. After the last 16, all knockout games at the 2026 finals are to be held in the U.S.; for the Mexicans and the English, this means a potential trip to Miami for the quarters.
Mexico vs England: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.
In the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico and England meet in Mexico City today, Sunday, July 5, with kickoff at the Estadio Azteca scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on Fox Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo, Fox One and fubo.
Related stories
"My players know Haaland better than I do"
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment