England beats – Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored early in the second half as England beat Panama 2-0 at MetLife Stadium, finishing Group L first on seven points and earning a round-of-32 matchup Wednesday in Atlanta against Congo.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The rain came and went, but the mood didn’t. At MetLife Stadium, England turned sporadic showers into a kind of soundtrack, with red-and-white Cross of St. George signs circling the field as fans pressed close to the goal like they were trying to hold it in place.
When Jude Bellingham struck in the 62nd minute and Harry Kane doubled the lead five minutes later. the feeling that this was Wembley—north Jersey edition—finally hardened into a scoreline. England’s 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday gave the Three Lions first place in Group L and a more favorable knockout bracket.
England’s players even wore the red jerseys made famous when England beat Germany for its only title in 1966, a visual link between north Jersey and that famous day in north London.
“Amazing support. Crazy white wall behind the goal. Perfect weather to play football for us,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said.
The victory sent England into the round of 32 with momentum and a plan already taking shape. England finished Group L with two wins and a draw for seven points. and will play its round of 32 match Wednesday at Atlanta against Congo. The team that advances from that matchup faces Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.
Had England slipped into second place, the path would have been harder: Portugal would have waited, with the winner meeting Spain, Austria or Algeria.
Bellingham, who scored his third World Cup goal and his second this year, suggested the stakes weren’t just on the field. “I know some people have already made plans,” he said, “so it was nice they don’t have to cancel anything.”
For Panama, the match’s turning point came after halftime. The first half belonged to England’s pressure, but Panama held the scoreless line, even as Kane registered just 10 touches—the fewest of any player.
Croatia’s game against Ghana was played simultaneously in Philadelphia, with Croatia adding pressure by taking the lead midway through the first half.
England’s first goal arrived from a corner. In the 62nd minute, Bellingham put the Three Lions ahead from Bukayo Saka’s corner kick. Held in a bear hug by Jorge Gutiérrez near the top of the 6-yard box. Bellingham stuck out his left leg and stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for a goal that landed like a release.
Five minutes later, Bellingham helped create the second. From the left flank, he crossed, and Kane outjumped Andrés Andrade to head the ball in. It was Kane’s 82nd international goal and his 11th World Cup goal—one more than Gary Lineker—making him England’s record World Cup scorer.
The timing mattered, too, because England had been dealing with its own doubts. Bellingham had injured his left hamstring playing for Real Madrid on Feb. 1 and didn’t return until March 22. He scored just two more goals during the rest of the La Liga season.
Still, the forward sounded confident after the match. “Jude looks fit, looks sharp,” Kane said. “It looks like he’s got the bit between his teeth to really go out there and prove to the world what type of player he is.”
England reached the knockout rounds for the seventh time in eight World Cups.
In the stands. fans filled the field walls with flags featuring club names including Tottenham. Watford and Wolves. along with smaller teams such as Crawley Town. Bristol Rovers and Faversham Town. After the final whistle, supporters celebrated Bellingham by singing the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” when he stood for postgame interviews.
“This evening is special to take the energy and take in the atmosphere,” Tuchel said. “From tomorrow we will think about round of 32.”
There was praise from Panama, even in defeat. Panama defender José Córdoba said, “They have great players. They are worth millions and millions. We’re talking about English football, which is much more developed than in our country and there’s a huge distance.”
Panama finished with a 0-3 showing for the second time and was outscored 4-0. The team joined Iraq. Haiti. El Salvador. Canada and Mexico—all but one from the CONCACAF region—as teams that lost their first six World Cup matches. José Fajardo put the ball in the net for the Los Canaleros in second-half stoppage time. but was called for offside.
Panama coach Thomas Christiansen framed it as effort without results. “We can be proud — not of the results, as no one can be proud of a defeat, but all in all I think they gave their everything.” He added, “For the outside world, the image of Panama has been really good.”
Even as the win belonged to England, the match carried a couple of concerns for Tuchel. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford played his 15th World Cup match—second among English players to Peter Shilton’s 17. And on the defensive end. England’s lineup shifted after injuries: Jarell Quansah. usually a central defender. replaced right back Reece James. who was sidelined by a hamstring.
Quansah twisted his right ankle during a 59th-minute challenge by José Luis Rodríguez and was replaced in the 63rd. Tuchel said England is short on right backs after Trent Alexander-Arnold was not picked for the roster. and he noted the situation would be tight. “It will be now a very tight race for Quansah, so I’m worried about these two,” Tuchel said.
In the end, England’s celebration felt bigger than just a group-stage win. It wasn’t only that they finished Group L with seven points. It was the way they built the second-half surge—fast, ruthless, and timed for the moment MetLife Stadium started to sound like home.
England Panama World Cup Group L Jude Bellingham Harry Kane MetLife Stadium Congo round of 32 Thomas Tuchel Jordan Pickford