England Tops World Cup Group With 2-0 Victory Over Panama Behind Bellingham, Kane/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored second-half goals as England defeated Panama 2-0 to finish atop Group L at the FIFA World Cup. The victory secured a favorable knockout path and set up a Round of 32 clash with Congo.

England World Cup Group Win Quick Looks

• England defeated Panama 2-0 in its final Group L match.


• Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored in the second half.


• England finished first in the group with seven points.


• Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 goals.


• The Three Lions will face Congo in the Round of 32.


• Panama exited the tournament after losing all three group matches.


• England celebrated with thousands of supporters who turned MetLife Stadium into a home atmosphere.

England Secures Top Spot in Group L

England booked a favorable route through the FIFA World Cup knockout stage after defeating Panama 2-0 on Saturday at MetLife Stadium behind second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

The victory allowed England to finish first in Group L with seven points from two wins and one draw, earning a Round of 32 matchup against surprise qualifier Congo on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Avoiding second place also helped England stay clear of a much tougher side of the bracket that would have included Portugal, followed potentially by Spain or Austria.

Manager Thomas Tuchel praised the atmosphere created by England’s supporters, who transformed the New Jersey venue into something resembling Wembley Stadium.

Second-Half Surge Breaks Panama Resistance

Panama frustrated England for much of the opening half, limiting Harry Kane to only 10 touches—the fewest of any player on the field.

Meanwhile, Croatia’s lead over Ghana in the simultaneous Group L match briefly increased the pressure on England.

The Three Lions emerged after halftime with renewed urgency.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 62nd minute.

Following Bukayo Saka’s corner kick, Bellingham battled through tight marking from Jorge Gutiérrez before stretching out his left leg to poke the ball beyond goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.

Just five minutes later, Bellingham turned provider.

His cross from the left wing found Kane, who rose above Andrés Andrade to head home England’s second goal and effectively seal the victory.

Kane Sets Another England Record

Kane’s header was more than just insurance.

The goal marked his 82nd international strike and his 11th career World Cup goal, moving him past Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

Bellingham also continued his impressive return from injury.

After missing several weeks with a left hamstring injury suffered while playing for Real Madrid in February, the midfielder appears to be regaining top form at exactly the right time.

The goal was Bellingham’s third in World Cup competition and second of the 2026 tournament.

England Eyes Deep Tournament Run

England advanced to the knockout rounds for the seventh time in its last eight World Cup appearances.

With the group victory secured, the Three Lions now face Congo before a potential Round of 16 showdown against either Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.

The victory also reinforced optimism among England supporters, who filled the stadium with St. George’s Cross flags representing clubs from across the country, from Premier League sides to lower-division teams.

Following the final whistle, fans serenaded Bellingham with a rendition of the Beatles classic “Hey Jude” as he conducted postgame interviews on the field.

Tuchel quickly shifted focus toward the challenges ahead.

Panama Shows Fight Despite Elimination

Panama finished its second World Cup appearance without a point, losing all three group-stage matches while failing to score an official goal.

José Fajardo appeared to end that drought late in stoppage time, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Despite the results, Panama coach Thomas Christiansen praised his team’s effort throughout the tournament.

Defending José Córdoba acknowledged the challenge of facing one of the world’s elite teams.

England now heads into the knockout stage with momentum, while Panama departs after another valuable World Cup experience against the game’s top nations.

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