Kane Breaks Lineker’s World Cup Record as England Top Group L — Panama 0-2 England

Harry Kane needed one goal. He had waited 62 agonising minutes for it. And when Jude Bellingham’s dinked cross found him at the back post, the England captain rose, powered his header into the net, and wrote his name into history. Kane’s 11th World Cup goal moved him past Gary Lineker’s long-standing record to become England’s all-time leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup — five minutes after Bellingham had broken the deadlock with a smart finish from a Saka corner. England top Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 27, 2026. The knockout rounds beckon, and England’s best player has just re-announced himself.

Panama vs England 0-2 Highlights — World Cup 2026 Group L

Five changes from Tuchel, including first appearances for Jarell Quansah and Morgan Rogers — and a first-half performance that had large sections of the MetLife Stadium crowd questioning whether their side had learned anything from their similarly frustrating display against Ghana earlier in the tournament. The second half was a different story entirely, delivered in the space of five brilliant minutes by the player England cannot afford to lose at any point in this tournament.

Match Summary:

England’s Frustrating First Half — Panama More Than Held Their Own

Tomás Rodríguez sent a long-range shot straight at Jordan Pickford within 10 seconds of kick-off — the earliest attempt England have faced in a World Cup match since 2014. It set the tone for a first half in which Panama were anything but passive.

Rashford had England’s best first-half chance, his low curling effort pushed away by Orlando Mosquera. Bellingham and Saka both saw half-chances go begging. But Panama were equally dangerous — José Luís Rodríguez drilled a shot that Pickford got down well to save, and only a covering tackle prevented a genuine first-half scare.

Kane himself — under pressure to equal Lineker before anyone else — failed to have a single shot before half-time for the first time in seven World Cup appearances, dating back to the Iran opener of 2022. Tuchel made three changes at half-time, bringing on Rogers, Anderson, and Jordan Henderson — the latter becoming the first player ever to appear in seven major tournaments for England.

Panama had shown genuine quality on the counter in the first half. Tuchel said afterwards: “Tuchel just said ‘we will step up, the bigger the games’.” The second half proved him right.

📺 Watch the full match highlights: Panama vs England 0-2 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Highlights

Jude Bellingham Goal vs Panama — The Spark That Changed Everything

62′ — Bellingham breaks the deadlock. Bukayo Saka whipped a corner from the left, and Bellingham — with a defender holding him at the back post — instinctively stuck out his left foot and diverted the ball home. A smart, technically difficult finish that only a player of Bellingham’s class would even attempt, let alone execute. His second goal of the tournament was a moment that visibly lifted the entire stadium.

The goal was, in itself, a record. At 22 years and 363 days old, Bellingham became the youngest England player on record since 1966 to both score and assist in a World Cup match — having scored twice in his last three England appearances, as many goals as in his previous 18 caps combined. Gary Neville, in the Sky Sports studio, was impressed: “Bellingham created four chances in this match — his joint-most in an England shirt.”

Harry Kane World Cup Record — England’s Greatest Ever World Cup Scorer

67′ — Kane breaks Lineker’s record. Five minutes after Bellingham’s opener, England were purring. Bellingham had taken over the game completely — driving forward, winning headers, creating angles. His scooped cross from the left was pinpoint, and Kane — who had been first to every ball since the restart — rose highest, planted his header across Mosquera, and sparked absolute bedlam in the English section of MetLife Stadium.

Kane’s 11th World Cup goal. More than any England player in history. The goal that removed Gary Lineker’s name from atop the record books — a mark that had stood since 1986. Kane wheeled away to the corner flag in his trademark celebration. Bellingham chased after him. England had their record and their result.

The stats surrounding Kane’s goal carry their own extraordinary weight. He has now scored four World Cup goals against Panama alone — more than any England player has managed against a single opponent in the competition’s history. Since 1966, Kane has more World Cup goals (11) than the next five England players combined.

Panama Bow Out Without a Goal — Fajardo’s Disallowed Strike Ends Their Campaign

Panama went home without a single World Cup goal to their name — and they came desperately close to breaking that duck in stoppage time.

José Fajardo latched onto Eric Davies’ stunning cross in the 91st minute and curled a finish past Jordan Pickford into the top-right corner — only for the flag to go up for offside. It was the correct call — Fajardo had set off fractionally too early — but for the travelling Panamanians, it was a brutal final twist. Panama became just the fourth nation to lose all five of their World Cup matches without scoring, joining Mexico in the 1930s, El Salvador, and Canada at various points in history.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L Final Standings

England top Group L. Croatia advance in second. And in a remarkable outcome, Ghana advanced as one of the best third-placed teams — becoming the first African nation to qualify for the knockout rounds of this World Cup without winning a single group match.

England face Senegal or DR Congo in Atlanta on July 1 — a Round of 32 fixture that, on the evidence of this tournament, they should win comfortably.

Kane is now England’s all-time World Cup scorer. Bellingham is the youngest England player to score and assist in a World Cup match. And with the knockout rounds ahead, Tuchel’s side are beginning to look like what they were supposed to be all along — a team that steps up when it matters most.

For full FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L results, England match updates and live coverage, visit fawanewss.co.uk. Full fixtures, group standings and squads at the official FIFA website.