Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored as England eased to a 2-0 victory over Panama in their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match in New Jersey on Saturday. The win secured England's top spot in the group, while Panama ended their campaign with zero points and zero goals.
First Half: A Tight Contest
The first half was a tightly contested affair with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. England dominated possession but found Panama's defense difficult to break down. The score remained goalless at halftime.
Second Half Breakthrough
England finally broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Following a corner, Jude Bellingham reacted quickest inside the box, producing a clever near-post finish to give England a 1-0 lead. Just six minutes later, Bellingham turned provider, delivering a superb cross into the box, which captain Harry Kane met with a powerful header to make it 2-0 in the 68th minute.
Kane's Historic Record
The goal saw Kane become England's all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 11 goals, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by Gary Lineker. It also took him to 18 goals in major international tournaments for England. Kane had drawn level with Lineker after scoring twice in the 4-2 win over Croatia to open the campaign.
Panama's Late Disallowed Goal
In the 90th minute, Panama thought they had finally found a breakthrough, but the goal was ruled out for offside, denying them a late consolation. Panama ended their World Cup campaign without scoring a single goal in three matches.
England's Group Stage Performance
Thomas Tuchel's men began with a rampant 4-2 win over Croatia in their first group match but were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw against Ghana in their second. The victory over Panama ensured England topped Group L with 7 points, while Croatia finished second with 5 points. Ghana, who had already secured qualification, ended in third place with 4 points.
Looking Ahead
England will now advance to the knockout stage as group winners, aiming to build on their strong performance. The team's depth and attacking prowess, led by Bellingham and Kane, make them a formidable contender in the tournament.
