At Wembley, a penalty that usually belongs to Harry Kane’s dependable repertoire became the turning point in England’s 3-2 UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain. The Bayern Munich forward slipped as he struck the ball in the second half, sending his attempt onto the post, and the miss quickly revived memories in Mexico of a very different Kane spot-kick at the 2026 World Cup.
A decisive miss in London
England had recovered from an early deficit against the reigning world champions and were presented with a chance to extend their lead when they were awarded a second-half penalty. Kane took responsibility for the kick, but lost his footing during his run-up and watched the effort rebound off the upright.
Spain made the reprieve count. Goals from Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal completed the visitors’ comeback and secured a 3-2 victory, turning Kane’s rare failure from 12 yards into one of the defining scenes of the Wembley night.
- Kane missed England’s second-half penalty after slipping before contact.
- His shot struck the post rather than finding the net.
- Spain overturned England’s advantage through Baena and Oyarzabal.
- The result was a 3-2 Spanish win in the UEFA Nations League.
Mexico supporters revisit the World Cup
The miss travelled swiftly across social media in Mexico, where Kane remains closely associated with England’s round-of-16 meeting with El Tri at the 2026 World Cup, staged across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
In that match, England were awarded a penalty after Raúl Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon. Kane converted in the 60th minute, increasing England’s advantage in a goal that carried major weight as Mexico attempted, but ultimately failed, to fight their way back into the contest.
England progressed in the tournament, while Mexico’s elimination left Kane as one of the central figures in a difficult afternoon for the national side.
Online reaction after Spain defeat
Mexican fans responded to Kane’s Wembley miss with a mixture of teasing and frustration, contrasting it with the assured penalty he had delivered against their team months earlier. One recurring sentiment was that the England captain should have taken the World Cup kick the way he did against Spain.
The reaction reflected the lingering importance of that 60th-minute World Cup goal: Kane’s conversion had helped stop Mexico’s attempted revival, while his later miss against Spain offered supporters a small, if belated, moment of sporting symmetry.
