England secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, with Jude Bellingham delivering a brilliant second-half masterclass and Harry Kane breaking England’s all-time World Cup scoring record.
England completely dominated the first half with 68 percent possession but struggled to create dangerous chances, registering a low cumulative 0.49 expected goals by halftime. The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute when Bellingham wrestled past his marker to brilliantly flick a Bukayo Saka corner kick into the back of the net.
Bellingham turned provider in the 67th minute, delivering a pinpoint cross into the box for Kane to hammer home a header. This marked Kane’s 12th career World Cup goal, officially surpassing Gary Lineker to become England’s all-time top scorer in World Cup history.
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Already missing first-choice right-back Reece James to injury, tactical deputy Jarell Quansah landed awkwardly and limped off the pitch, worsening England’s defensive selection crisis. Panama’s José Fajardo found the net deep in stoppage time, but wild Panamanian celebrations were cut short as VAR ruled it out for a clear offside.
England finished with 17 shots, eight on target, while Panama managed nine shots, two on target. English passing accuracy stood at 90 percent compared to Panama’s 75 percent.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Bellingham, at 22 years and 363 days old, became the youngest player in Three Lions history to both score and assist in a single World Cup match. England will play Senegal in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. Panama finishes last with zero points.
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Before Kickoff
Venue and Kickoff Time
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- Stadium: MetLife New York New Jersey Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- Kickoff: 21:00 GMT
⚽ Pre-Match Analysis
📋 Predicted Lineups
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- Panama Starting XI: Mosquera; Ramos, Córdoba, Andrade; Murillo, Harvey, Martínez, Blackman; Bárcenas, Fajardo, J.L. Rodríguez.
- England Starting XI: Pickford; Reece James, Konsa, Guéhi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer; Harry Kane.
📊 Match Facts and Head-to-Head (H2H)
- H2H Record: England dominantly defeated Panama 6-1 during the 2018 World Cup group stage in Russia.
- Key Fact: England managed 78% possession in their previous outing, though they struggled to break a low defensive block.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 28, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
