Bellingham and Kane seal England's 2-0 win over Panama and top spot in Group L

England beat Panama 2-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the imposing New York-area venue that will host the 2026 World Cup final and which holds 80,663 spectators, to close the third round of Group L. The win came at this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The game broke open in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Jude Bellingham put England ahead from a Bukayo Saka assist, the reward for Thomas Tuchel's side's persistence against a deep-lying Panama. The midfielder was named player of the match.

The clincher came barely five minutes later. In the 67th minute, Harry Kane made it two from a Bellingham pass, the midfielder rounding off a complete display with a goal and an assist. The 2-0 left the game settled for the Three Lions.

Tuchel set England up in a 4-1-4-1 with Jordan Pickford in goal, while Thomas Christiansen countered with a crowded Panamanian 5-4-1 and Orlando Mosquera between the posts. The match produced three bookings: José Fajardo (53') and Andrés Andrade (84') for Panama, and Jarell Quansah (60') for England.

With this win, England close Group L as leaders on seven points and advance with authority to the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Panama, by contrast, bow out of the tournament bottom and without a point, with three defeats in their three group-stage matches.