England started their 2026 World Cup journey on a high note with a hard-fought 4-2 win against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The match delivered plenty of excitement from the first whistle.
Harry Kane opened the scoring early with a penalty in the 12th minute, giving England a deserved lead after a strong start.
Croatia fought back well, and Martin Baturina leveled the score in the 36th minute with a neat strike that caught England off guard. Just before halftime, Kane responded quickly by heading home his second goal of the night to restore England’s advantage at 2-1.
The second half began with more drama as Petar Musa equalized for Croatia in the 45+5th minute (or around the 50th), showing their never-give-up spirit. Jude Bellingham put England back in front soon after with a 47th-minute goal that came at a perfect time to lift the team’s spirits. Marcus Rashford sealed the result later in the second half with a clinical finish in the 85th minute that made it 4-2 and ensured victory for England.
Kane’s brace was historic as he became just the second player to score for England at three different World Cups, joining David Beckham who achieved it in 1998, 2002, and 2006. With his first-half penalty, Kane also set another mark: apart from shootouts, he has now scored five penalties in World Cup history, more than any other player.
Kane’s two goals took his World Cup tally to 10, leveling Gary Lineker’s record as England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. It was Kane’s 80th appearance for England in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Bellingham has now scored once in each of his two World Cups (2022 and 2026). Rashford has also scored twice in his three World Cup appearances (2018, 2022, and 2026).
The match highlighted England’s attacking strength as Bellingham and Rashford added vital goals that showed depth in the squad under manager Thomas Tuchel. Croatia played with real heart throughout, and their two comebacks kept the game close while testing England’s defense until the final moments.
England’s fans in the stadium created a great atmosphere with their support helping the team push through a tough opponent in the opening group game. This win gives England a strong start in Group L and builds confidence as they look ahead to the rest of the tournament.
England will face Ghana on June 23, while Croatia will play against Panama on June 24 in their second fixture of the group stage.
