DALLAS June 18, 2026 — The Three Lions made a statement in their opening Group L match, defeating Croatia 4-2 in an entertaining and high-quality contest at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday night.
Harry Kane led the way with a first-half brace, including a retaken penalty, taking his World Cup tally to 10 goals and equaling Gary Lineker’s record for England. Croatia fought back twice before the break, but Jude Bellingham restored England’s lead shortly after halftime with a powerful strike, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the win with a late goal.
Manager Thomas Tuchel praised his team’s attacking flair while noting areas for defensive improvement after a nervy end to the first half. The result puts England top of Group L alongside Ghana, who also won on matchday one.
Match Summary
- England 4-2 Croatia
- Goals: Kane (12′ pen, 42′), Bellingham (47′), Rashford (85′) — Croatia (two first-half replies)
- Man of the Match: Harry Kane
The victory avenges England’s painful 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia and has sparked optimism among fans and pundits about the team’s potential under Tuchel.
England’s next group game is against Ghana on June 23 in Boston, followed by Panama on June 27.
Fans across England celebrated wildly as the result was confirmed, with many believing this could finally be the year the Three Lions go all the way. Extended highlights and post-match reactions are available on FIFA+, FOX Sports, and BBC platforms.
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