England secured top spot in Group L and advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a convincing 2-0 victory over Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated possession throughout the match and controlled the tempo from the opening whistle. However, despite creating several chances in the first half through Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, England failed to break the deadlock before halftime. Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera made a series of impressive saves to keep his side in the game.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Jude Bellingham found the net from a corner, giving England the lead and lifting the intensity of the game.
Bellingham continued to dictate play and turned provider in the 67th minute. Collecting a long ball from Rashford on the left, he delivered a precise chipped pass into the box, where captain Harry Kane headed home from close range.
The goal marked a historic moment for Kane, who surpassed Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals to become England’s all-time leading scorer in the tournament with 11 goals.
Bellingham also achieved a milestone of his own. At 22 years and 363 days old, he became the first English player since 1966 to record both a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match.
With the win, England finished as Group L winners, securing what could be a more favorable path in the knockout rounds.
For Panama, the tournament ended in disappointment without scoring a single goal. However, they showed resilience in narrow 1-0 defeats against Ghana and Croatia, proving their fighting spirit despite an early exit.
