A brace from Harry Kane, complemented by strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, propelled England to a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their 2026 tournament debut.
Harry Kane netted twice in a high-octane first half as England overcame Croatia 4-2 to kick off their World Cup campaign in Texas.
Following a hard-fought first half that saw Croatia fight back to a 2-2 deadlock, Thomas Tuchel’s side reclaimed control. Jude Bellingham scored immediately after the interval, and substitute Marcus Rashford added a fourth with five minutes remaining to secure the win.
The clinical Kane gave England an early advantage twice in the opening period—including a successful retaken penalty—though Croatia, the 2018 runners-up, responded through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.
With both defenses struggling to maintain stability, the match remained open throughout. Bellingham required only two minutes in the second half to restore England’s lead before a crowd of 70,000 spectators.
Despite several missed opportunities to extend their cushion, England eventually sealed the result through Rashford’s late strike.
This encounter served as a rematch of the 2018 semifinal, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time. However, England appeared the stronger side this time around against a veteran Croatian squad.
Managing a team determined to bring home England’s first major trophy since 1966, Thomas Tuchel saw his side start nervously at the Dallas Cowboys’ air-conditioned stadium.
The drama intensified when Croatia’s captain, Luka Modric, fouled Noni Madueke in the penalty area. While goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic initially saved Kane’s penalty, referee Clement Turpin ordered a retake after VAR determined the goalkeeper had stepped off his line.
Kane remained composed during the second attempt, slotting the ball to the left to give England a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
England continued to press, with Bellingham—starting in the number 10 role over Morgan Rogers—forcing a sharp save from Livakovic.
In the 30th minute, England nearly doubled their lead when Bellingham narrowly missed a precise low cross from Madueke.
Croatia found an equalizer in the 36th minute after England turned the ball over in midfield; Petar Sucic bypassed John Stones to set up Baturina, who fired a shot past Jordan Pickford.
The parity was short-lived, as Kane rose unmarked to head home a Declan Rice corner just six minutes later. This goal marked Kane’s 10th World Cup strike, tying him with Gary Lineker for the most by an England player.
Despite the lead, Tuchel remained focused and stern on the touchline. The first half ended in chaotic fashion when Petar Musa capitalized on a defensive lapse in stoppage time to make it 2-2.
The second half mirrored the first’s volatility, beginning with a goal as Bellingham drove down the right wing and tucked the ball into the corner.
England dominated the subsequent period, with Kane and Nico O’Reilly creating multiple chances to extend the lead. After a late period of Croatian pressure, Marcus Rashford provided the final blow to ensure all three points for England.
