England made an impressive start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in a pulsating Group L encounter that underlined both their attacking quality and defensive vulnerabilities.
Captain Harry Kane led the way with two first-half goals before Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford struck after the break to secure all three points for Thomas Tuchel’s side in Dallas. Croatia twice fought back through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa but were ultimately unable to contain England’s attacking threat.
The result puts England at the top of Group L ahead of Ghana’s opening match against Panama and gives Tuchel a winning start to his World Cup campaign.
England began brightly and were rewarded with an early penalty. Kane kept his composure after the spot-kick had to be retaken, converting at the second attempt to hand the Three Lions the lead. The goal saw the England captain continue his remarkable scoring record on football’s biggest stage.
Croatia, however, refused to be overawed. Midfielder Martin Baturina levelled with a fine strike to bring Zlatko Dalic’s side back into the contest and briefly silence the large England support.
The response from England was swift. Kane restored the advantage before the interval, powering home his second goal of the evening and taking his World Cup tally to a landmark figure that drew him level with one of England’s all-time tournament greats.
Yet Croatia struck again just before half-time. Veteran forward Petar Musa found the net to make it 2-2 and ensure the teams went into the break level after an enthralling opening 45 minutes.
England regained control shortly after the restart thanks to Bellingham. The midfielder produced a moment of individual brilliance, driving forward before finishing superbly to put his side ahead for a third time. The goal highlighted why the 22-year-old is regarded as one of the world’s leading midfield talents.
Croatia pushed for another equaliser, with Luka Modric attempting to inspire the side in what is his fifth World Cup appearance, but England increasingly dominated possession and territory.
The decisive moment arrived late in the match when substitute Rashford finished calmly after excellent build-up play, ensuring there would be no third Croatian comeback and sealing a deserved England victory.
While England’s attack will attract most of the headlines, Tuchel may be concerned by the ease with which Croatia created opportunities. Both Baturina and Musa exposed defensive weaknesses that stronger opponents could seek to exploit later in the tournament.
For now, though, England will be encouraged by a performance that showcased their depth and firepower. Kane’s leadership, Bellingham’s creativity and Rashford’s impact from the bench combined to give the Three Lions a winning start as they pursue a first World Cup triumph since 1966. Croatia, meanwhile, must regroup quickly before their second Group L fixture as they seek to keep their qualification hopes alive.
