Kane double sparks England party as Three Lions thrash Croatia 4-2 in World Cup opener

England fans in Dallas and across the UK erupted into celebration after Thomas Tuchel’s side kicked off their World Cup 2026 campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia. Two goals from Harry Kane and strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford secured the three points at the AT&T Stadium, sending a wave of beer and cheers through pubs nationwide despite the 9pm kick-off back home. The emphatic win came amid a backdrop of controversy: FIFA issued a statement after England supporters without tickets attended the opening match, while Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic described his side’s defeat as “disastrous”. Bellingham, who admitted to having a “chip on his shoulder” after the match, received a message from Tuchel as the squad celebrated their strong start. Elsewhere in Group L, Ghana snatched a late 1-0 win over Panama via Caleb Yirenkyi’s goal, setting up a clash with England in Boston next week. Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo, with Cristiano Ronaldo failing to score, while Colombia beat debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 thanks to second-half goals from Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz. England now turn their focus to the Black Stars, with a chance to confirm top spot in the group with a game to spare.