News Focus
- England defeat Croatia 4-2 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match in Dallas
- Jude Bellingham scores the decisive goal with a powerful solo run early in the second half
- Harry Kane nets twice but misses a retaken penalty in a chaotic first 45 minutes
- Marcus Rashford seals the win with a clinical finish after coming off the bench
- The match takes place in air-conditioned comfort despite 32C heat outside the Texas stadium
Thomas Tuchel’s England began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an exhilarating 4-2 victory over Croatia at the Dallas Stadium. The Three Lions recovered from a shaky defensive display in the first half to dominate the second period and secure all three points.
The match started at a frantic pace. Noni Madueke won an early penalty by pressing Luka Modric, and Harry Kane scored at the second attempt after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved the initial kick. However, England’s defence looked vulnerable throughout the opening period. Croatia punished this weakness when Martin Baturina fired into the top corner after Petar Sucic bypassed John Stones.
Kane restored England’s lead with a thumping header from a Declan Rice corner, but the advantage lasted only minutes. Ivan Perisic headed the ball back across goal for Petar Musa to volley past Jordan Pickford, leaving the score level at 2-2 at the interval.
The second half belonged to Jude Bellingham. The midfielder collected a pass from Elliot Anderson, surged past Josip Sutalo, and drilled a low shot into the far corner to put England ahead. This goal settled the team, and they created numerous chances from set pieces.
Substitutes played a key role in the closing stages. Bukayo Saka provided the assist for Marcus Rashford, who cut inside a defender and finished calmly to extend the lead. Djed Spence had earlier gone close, while Nico O’Reilly missed two headers from corners.
The stadium roof protected players from the extreme Texas heat, keeping the temperature at 22C despite blazing sunshine outside. Pickford made a vital late block from Marco Pasalic to ensure England held on for the victory.
Tuchel will praise his team’s attacking quality but will demand tighter defending in future matches. The manager’s decision to start Madueke ahead of Saka proved effective, as the winger’s energy troubled the Croatian backline throughout.