England defeats Croatia 4-2 in 2026 World Cup opener, Harry Kane scores twice
England kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, as captain Harry Kane scored twice to lead the Three Lions to all three points. Kane opened the scoring from a penalty awarded after Luka Modrić fouled Noni Madueke inside the box; the initial effort was saved by Dominik Livaković but the kick was retaken for encroachment and Kane converted on the second attempt. Croatia leveled through Martin Baturina before halftime, then Petar Musa restored parity just before the break. Kane gave England the lead again with a header from Declan Rice’s corner, drawing level with Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England.
The win marked England’s first 4-2 scoreline at a World Cup since their famous triumph over West Germany in the 1966 final and gave new manager Thomas Tuchel a winning start at a major tournament. Jude Bellingham, becoming the youngest European to appear in four major international tournaments, made it 3-2 after the restart, and late substitutes Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined for the fourth goal. Kane’s brace also made him only the second English player, after David Beckham, to score at three different World Cups.
For Nigerian football fans who follow the Premier League, the result signals England’s attacking depth and boosts excitement for the tournament. With England off to a strong start, will you be watching their next match closely, or does this shift your focus to African teams competing in the 2026 World Cup?