Second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane in a five-minute spell guided England to an unconvincing 2-0 win over Panama and the top spot of Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup from a wet and dreary MetLife Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Bellingham and Kane both struck from crosses midway through the frame to lift a lifeless and uninspired England to victory over a limited Panama side that goes home pointless and without a goal to its name.
Kane’s goal means that he is now England’s top goalscorer in World Cup history with 11 goals, surpassing a long-standing record set by Gary Lineker in 1990.
England came into Saturday’s contest knowing they would need a win to guarantee top spot in Group L after a lifeless 0-0 draw with Ghana left the sides locked on four points each, with Croatia one point behind.
In teeming rain, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Thomas Tuchel’s men, who toiled against a well-organized Panama for much of the first half and struggled for any genuine goalscoring opportunities.
It was only deep into the second half when England made the breakthrough, with the goal unspurprisingly coming from a corner. Kane added a second five minutes later to kill off the game as a contest, but the performance will do little to inspire confidence in England’s prospects in the knockout stages.
Tuchel credited his side for coming through a physical encounter against a Panama side that had conceded few chances in its opening two games against Ghana and Croatia.
“Everyone who watched us close on the sidelines saw the physicality of the game,” Tuchel said. “There is no problem if these matches feel tight. If these matches feel tough, it will help us in the next, in the next match.”
Panama set out its stall early on, setting up with a rigid bank of five across the back and a rigid bank of four across midfield in a low block that frustrated an England side short of ideas.
England controlled the majority of possession, with their high press often forcing Panama to hoof the ball long for Jordan Pickford to mop up in the England goal. But Tuchel’s side could do precious little with it and was often restricted to harmless shots from range.
Marcus Rashford, starting his first game at the 2026 World Cup, had the best moments for England in a forgettable first half, forcing Orlando Mosquera into a diving save as a tester from range arrowed toward the bottom corner after eight minutes.
Rashford had an even better chance with eight minutes remaining in the half when he rose above Michael Amir Murillo to meet an Elliot Anderson cross at the back post but couldn’t keep the effort down and the ball sailed over Mosquera’s crossbar.
But Panama had its moments too in a half of few chances.
On the rare occasions that Panama could get the ball down and beat the England press, there was ample space to exploit behind the English high line – although Panama often struggled to get the final pass right.
They did on one occasion – shortly after play resumed following a loudly-booed first-half hydration break – when Tomas Rodriguez fed his namesake Jose Luis Rodriguez down the left. The latter smashed an effort on goal from just inside the area, forcing Pickford into a smart save.
As if to sum up England’s struggles, Kane had managed just eight touches by the 35th minute despite England controlling more than 70% of the ball, while they managed just two shots on target in the entire half – both from long range.
Something would need to change drastically in the second half if England was to unlock the Panama defense and avoid a second-placed finish in Group L after Croatia took a 1-0 lead over Ghana, but it was much of the same pedestrian soccer in the opening 10 minutes of the half.
In fact, it was Panama who went closest to opening the scoring when Jose Luis Rodriguez cut in from the left and curled narrowly over the crossbar on 56.
That opportunity seemed to wake England up, with Tuchel’s side looking noticeably sharper at the approach of the hour mark.
Kane should have given England the lead on 58 minutes when Morgan Rogers slipped a ball behind Panama defense, creating a rare one-on-one with Mosquera. Kane’s effort, though powerful, was far too close to the Panama ‘keeper, who pawed the effort away.
England didn’t have to wait long for the opener, however, breaking the deadlock on 62 minutes when Bellingham hooked his foot around Jorge Gutierréz to volley home a Bukayo Saka corner from the edge of the six yard box.
They doubled their advantage – and put the game to bed- five minutes later when Bellingham dug out a cross from the left, with Kane rising highest at the back post to head back across Mosquera and into the net.
“We realized we had a couple more gears to go after a so-so start in the first half,” Bellingham said. “I think you saw in both the games that we won, Croatia and today, I think we stepped up a level when we came out for the second half.”
The second-half hydration break followed shortly after that Kane goal and the game petered out as an almost non-event in the final quarter, with England becoming increasinly sloppy with their status as group winners confirmed and Panama’s attack too limited to take advantage of some promising situations.
As Group L winners, England will play one of the best third-placed teams in the round-of-32, with Senegal or DR Congo the likely opponents. Croatia, who defeated Ghana 2-1 to finish second, will play either Colombia or Portugal, while Ghana will fight on as one of the best third-placed sides.
