Bellingham lifts England past Panama as Kane sets World Cup scoring mark

England defeated Panama 2-0 at MetLife Stadium to secure first place in World Cup Group L. Jude Bellingham broke the game open in the 62nd minute before setting up Harry Kane five minutes later for a record 11th World Cup goal for England.

The result came after an uneven first half in which England had possession but struggled to turn it into clear attacking control, while Panama threatened on the break. Bellingham’s second-half impact changed the tone, first from Bukayo Saka’s corner and then with the delivery for Kane’s header.

Kane’s goal moved him beyond Gary Lineker as England’s top scorer at World Cups, adding a historic note to a result that also confirmed England’s path into the last 32 against DR Congo in Atlanta.

Thomas Tuchel framed the win as hard-earned rather than complete, while pundit reaction in the source mixed praise for Bellingham with concern about England’s overall rhythm. For editors, the key debate is whether this was a controlled tournament step forward or another performance reliant on individual quality.