Англи хэсгээ тэргүүлж, Панамыг буулган авлаа

Jude Bellingham’s strike and Harry Kane’s header gave England victory over stubborn Panama to win Group L at the World Cup 2026.

ENGLAND BREAK THE DEADLOCK! 🔓

Jude Bellingham taps in from a corner… The Three Lions top the group as it stands pic.twitter.com/WVtY6x5Qbb

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 27, 2026

The Three Lions toiled during the first half against eliminated opponents in New Jersey, defending questionably at times and briefly falling second in the table after Croatia took the lead against Ghana in the simultaneous section decider.

HARRY KANE MAKES IT TWO! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Bellingham turns provider and suddenly England are cruising

Kane becomes England’s all-time top scorer at World Cup finals pic.twitter.com/cWdElDoCN2

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 27, 2026

Thomas Tuchel’s side made the breakthrough in the 62nd minute courtesy of Bellingham’s composed finish inside the box from Bukayo Saka’s corner, with Kane doubling their lead by applying a powerful header to the Real Madrid livewire’s cross five minutes later.

Kane’s goal made the captain England’s all-time 11-goal top scorer at the finals, moving ahead of Gary Lineker.

England vs Panama: Three Lions ‘lack quality’ at World Cup

Panama had lost their first two group stage games 1-0 and threatened to take their first point against an England side who had been held by Ghana four days earlier and are now likely to face DR Congo or Senegal.

Former England striker Ian Wright referenced Tuchel’s half-time team talk to his players to transform their fortunes in their opening 4-2 win over Croatia, suggesting the German would need to inspire his players again in this contest.

“Jude Bellingham was doing a lot of work getting the ball into the front men,” Wright told ITV, adding that two of the newcomers in England’s starting line-up, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, had provided “good width”.

“But the lack of quality once you get in [dangerous areas] is poor,” added Wright, warning that England had made it “very, very easy” for Panama’s defenders.

World Cup 2026: England team vs Panama

England made five changes from their 0-0 draw with Ghana the previous Tuesday.

Reece James is expected to miss two matches with a hamstring injury and Djed Spence, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon moved to the bench.

Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Morgan Rogers, Saka and Rashford came in.

England starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, Jarell Quansah, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford

England substitutes: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney

World Cup 2026: Panama team vs England

Panama made three alterations from their 1-0 defeat to Croatia four days earlier.

Fidel Escobar, Jorge Gutierrez and Tomas Rodriguez replaced Jiovany Ramos, Cesar Blackman and Jose Fajardo.

Panama XI: Orlando Mosquera, Jose Cordoba, Fidel Escobar, Carlos Harvey, Andres Andrade, Amir Murillo, Jorge Gutierrez, Cristian Martinez, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Edgar Yoel Barcenas, Tomas Rodriguez

Panama substitutes: Luis Mejia, Cesar Samudio, Cesar Blackman, Edgardo Farina, Jiovany Ramos, Eric Davis, Roderick Miller, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Ismael Diaz, Alberto Quintero, Anibal Godoy, Cesar Yanis, Jose Fajardo, Cecilio Waterman, Azarias Londono

England vs Panama: World Cup 2026 stats

• Panama have lost each of their six World Cup matches, scoring two goals in total in the process. Only El Salvador can match that 100% losing record in the competition history (6 games)
• They were playing at their second World Cup and their first since 2018 in Russia, in which they finished bottom of a group consisting of Belgium and England, who competed in that edition’s third-placed play-off, as well as Tunisia
• Along with eliminated Curacao, Panama were one of two sides to avoid defeat during CONCACAF qualifying among teams to have played at least 10 matches, while recording the most high turnovers (82)
• Only three players recorded more assists in CONCACAF qualifying than Amir Murillo (3), who was also second for expected assists (2.6)
• Manager Thomas Christiansen has been in charge of Panama since July 2020, leading them to the knockout stage in two of his three Gold Cup campaigns (runners-up in 2023, quarter-finals in 2025)
• Jordan Pickford made his 15th World Cup appearance for England. Only Peter Shilton (17) has more in the competition for the men’s national team
• Jude Bellingham made his 50th England appearance for England on matchday two, becoming the youngest player ever to reach the milestone for the Three Liones at the age of 22 years and 359 days
• England are making their 17th World Cup appearance in their eighth consecutive participation, which is the longest uninterrupted run in their history
• Since winning their only World Cup title in 1966, England have progressed past the quarter-finals on two occasions: they finished fourth in 1990 and 2018
• A World Cup newcomer, Tuchel is the third non-Englishman to lead the nation at the finals after Sven-Goran Eriksson (2002, 2006) and Fabio Capello (2010)