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 to a 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday afternoon during the teams’ opening match of 2026 World Cup Group L play.
In Dallas, England, now led by Thomas Tuchel,avenged a World Cup semifinal defeat to Croatia, which dashed England’s World Cup dreams in that Moscow-based match eight years ago.
With Kane's two goals, he tied Gary Lineker as the Three Lions' all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup.
Group L standings
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 a 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 afforded a retake.
Once again, Kane went left of Livaković. That time, Livaković dove to his right, and England rejoiced as it staked itself to a 1-0 advantage.
In the 36th minute, Croatia scored the first of its two game-tying goals. This one manifested from a savvy give-and-go exchange between Martin Baturina and Petar Sučić. Baturina lofted a through ball for Sučić, who cut back in the box and then set up Baturina with a pass back out.
Baturina turned that feed into a shot toward the left corner of the cage. England goalie Jordan Pickford got a piece of the ball but not enough to stop it from hitting twine.
Soon after, in the 42nd minute, Kane found the back of the net again. He pocketed a set-piece goal after using his head to redirect a well-placed Declan Rice corner kick and put England ahead 2-1.
He’s up to 10 goals in his World Cup career.
But, just prior to intermission, Croatia answered again. A marvelous sequence paved the way for the equalizer. Mario Pašalić located Ivan Perišić, who headed the ball to the foot of Petar Musa.
Musa, an FC Dallas forward playing not far from his MLS club’s home, one-timed the pass by Pickford to knot the score at 2-2.
This story is being updated.
