Bellingham and Kane secure top spot for England
Baku, June 28, AZERTAC
England secured first place in Group L as second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane earned them their second win of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
England had thrashed Panama 6-1 when the teams met at Russia 2018, but this was a much closer contest as Thomas Christiansen’s side frustrated England throughout the first half. It was Bellingham who provided the breakthrough, holding off his marker and prodding home a volley from Bukayo Saka’s corner in the 62nd minute. The England No. 10 then crossed for Harry Kane to head home his 11th World Cup goal – one more than previous record-holder Gary Lineker.
After England’s stalemate against Ghana, coach Thomas Tuchel made five changes to his starting lineup, including first starts in North America for the attacking trio of Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, and Saka. Rashford posed England’s greatest threat in the opening half, cutting inside to force a full-stretch save from Orlando Mosquera with an early effort before heading over at the far post from Elliot Anderson’s cross.
The wet conditions were familiar to England, but so too was the challenge of dominating possession while struggling to break down well-drilled opponents. Indeed, Panama nearly took the lead shortly after the first hydration break when Jose Luis Rodriguez burst into space on the left and tested Jordan Pickford with a powerful shot that was turned behind at the near post.
England continued to dominate after the break, with Mosquera producing a superb save to deny Kane before Bellingham's second goal of the tournament finally broke the deadlock.
Panama, who saw a late Jose Fajardo strike ruled out for offside, will head home without a point or a goal despite registering double figures in goal attempts. England, meanwhile, will face a third-placed team from Group E, H, I, J, or K in the Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, 1 July.
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