World Cup 2026: Harry Kane notches record-tying brace, then England scores twice more in thrilling win over Croatia

A record-tying first-half brace from England captain Harry Kane and a pair of second-half goals, the first from Jude Bellingham and the next from Marcus Rashford, lifted the Three Lions over Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon in the teams’ opening match of 2026 World Cup Group L play. In Dallas, England avenged its 2018 World Cup semifinal defeat to Croatia. Group L standings W T L GD Pts. 1 England 1 0 0 2 3 2 Croatia 0 0 1 -2 0 3 Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 4 Panama 0 0 0 0 0 Croatia teased control in the early moments of the match, but England struck first blood, in part thanks to a head-scratching foul from Croatia captain Luka Modrić, a 40-year-old who famously won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 and the Golden Ball as a World Cup runner-up that same year. This wasn’t Modrić’s day. He was subbed out around the hour mark, the stain on his uncharacteristically non-influential performance being his infraction. He swung at the ball in the box and got a whole lot of England’s Noni Madueke. Enter, Kane, who got not one but two chances at his penalty goal in the 12th minute. His first attempt was saved by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, except, because Livaković came off his line while Kane stutter stepped, Kane was given a retake. Once again, Kane went left of Livaković, and that time Livaković dove to his right, and England rejoiced as it staked itself to a 1-0 advantage. This story is being updated.