Group L Final Round Results
England 2-0 Panama – Goals from Jude Bellingham (62') and Harry Kane (67') secured England's top spot. Kane's header, assisted by Bellingham, was his 11th World Cup goal, surpassing Gary Lineker's record of 10.
England had already qualified for the Round of 32 prior to the match.
Croatia vs. Ghana – This match decided the second qualification spot from Group L. Croatia entered in third place and needed to avoid defeat to progress.
Final Group L Standings
- 1. England – 7 points
- 2. Croatia – 4 points
- 3. Ghana – 3 points (eliminated)
- 4. Panama – 0 points (eliminated)
Match Details & Statistics
- England vs. Panama – England had 17 shots (1.40 xG), Panama had 13 shots (0.59 xG).
- Historic Milestone – Jordan Henderson became the first player to appear in seven major tournaments for England.
- Team Composition – England fielded a starting XI with four players from non-English clubs for the first time in a World Cup match.
- Panama's Tournament – Finished without scoring a single goal.
Player Performances
- Harry Kane – Scored his 11th World Cup goal, becoming England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament. He is the second England men's player to score at three different World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026), joining David Beckham.
- Jude Bellingham – At 22 years 363 days, became the youngest England player to both score and assist in a World Cup match.
- Marcus Rashford – Started his first World Cup game of the tournament.
Group Stage Summary
Group L Matches
England 1-0 Croatia (Opener)
England won their opening match in Dallas, Texas. Harry Kane scored the winning goal from a retaken penalty after his initial attempt was saved. The retake was ordered because goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic left his line early.
Note: A separate match report indicates England defeated Croatia 4-2 in their opening fixture, with Kane scoring twice (one penalty, one header), Bellingham and Rashford also scoring. Croatia's goals came from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa. Sources differ on the final score.
England 0-0 Ghana
England and Ghana played to a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium near Boston, attended by 63,983 fans. England had 78.8% possession and 19 shots, with three on target. Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made several saves, and Nico O'Reilly's header hit the crossbar. Both teams entered the match with four points each.
Croatia vs. Panama
Croatia played Panama in Toronto following the group stage.
Group K Matches
- Portugal vs. Colombia – Determined the top spot in Group K. Colombia could secure first place with a win or a draw.
- DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan – Both teams needed a win to remain in the tournament.
- Portugal vs. DR Congo – Earlier, DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw.
Group J Matches
- Argentina vs. Jordan – Argentina, already guaranteed first place, played Jordan. Lionel Messi started on the bench.
- Austria vs. Algeria – Both teams competed for second place.
Group Stage Context
England finished top of their group in consecutive World Cup appearances for the first time. They accumulated 7 points, their joint-most in a group stage.
Pre-Tournament Matches & Preparations
England vs. Croatia (World Cup Opener)
The match was a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, which Croatia won 2-1. Luka Modric appeared in his fifth World Cup for Croatia. England's starting XI included Jordan Pickford, Reece James, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Noni Madueke, Harry Kane, and Anthony Gordon.
England 3-0 Costa Rica (Friendly)
England won 3-0 against Costa Rica in a friendly match in Orlando, Florida, delayed by one hour due to a thunderstorm. Goals were scored by Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon (penalty), and Ollie Watkins. Manager Thomas Tuchel selected Jude Bellingham as the number 10, with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke on the wings.
Predicted Lineup (Pre-Tournament)
Pre-tournament reports indicated Jude Bellingham was expected to start as England's attacking midfielder, with Bukayo Saka recovering from injury. The predicted starting XI included Jordan Pickford in goal, a defense of Reece James, John Stones, Ezri Konsa or Marc Guéhi, and Nico O'Reilly, a midfield of Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham, and a forward line of Noni Madueke, Harry Kane, and Anthony Gordon.
Key Statements
Harry Kane (on scoring record): "It is a proud one for sure... to get to 11 goals is a proud feeling."
Thomas Tuchel (on Croatia match): "The first half was nervy... I loved the reaction of the players in the second half."
Zlatko Dalic (Croatia coach, on England): "England was very difficult... we need to be strong defensively."