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England clinched the top position in Group L at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday, thanks largely to a commanding performance from Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark and then set up Harry Kane for the second, as Thomas Tuchel’s men produced a result that was far better than their overall display.

Following a frustrating draw with Ghana, Tuchel made five changes to his starting eleven. One of those, Marcus Rashford, tested Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera early on with a sharp low effort from the edge of the box.

Despite that early promise, England failed to build momentum. Jordan Pickford had to react smartly after Jose Luis Rodriguez slipped behind the English defence midway through the first half, forcing the goalkeeper into an alert save just after the hydration break.

Rashford remained lively before the interval, heading over from close range and bending a free-kick narrowly wide. Early in the second half, he again came close, bursting down the left but only managing to find the side netting.

Kane then forced Mosquera into another stop before England finally broke the deadlock. Bellingham timed his run perfectly to volley home at the near post from a Bukayo Saka corner. Just five minutes later, the midfielder turned provider, delivering a fine cross for Kane to nod in from point-blank range—making the captain England’s all-time top scorer in World Cup history.

With the win secured, Tuchel’s side will now travel to Atlanta on Wednesday for their round-of-32 clash, continuing their quest to end six decades of World Cup heartbreak on North American soil.

Player Ratings from New Jersey:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (6/10): Made a solid save to deny Rodriguez in the first half. His distribution was inconsistent at times but he dealt well with danger when required.

Jarell Quansah (5/10): Started in place of the injured James but lacked the same attacking threat. Unfortunately joined the growing list of right-backs suffering injuries, departing just after the hour mark.

Ezri Konsa (4/10): Nearly gifted Panama a goal in the opening moments and struggled to settle early on. A mixed outing for the Aston Villa defender.

Marc Guehi (6/10): The calmest of England’s central defenders. His assured performance raised questions about why he didn’t start the tournament opener.

Nico O'Reilly (6/10): Occasionally left too much space behind but demonstrated excellent vision on the ball, particularly with his lofted pass to Bellingham in the build-up to the second goal.

Midfield

Elliot Anderson (4/10): Struggled without Declan Rice beside him and lost the ball too often. His set-piece delivery also lacked accuracy. Perhaps understandably distracted, given the intense scrutiny around him.

Jude Bellingham (9/10): Operating in a deeper role allowed him to dictate play and he looked England’s most creative force throughout. His forward runs were decisive, leading to both goals—first with a well-taken finish, then a pinpoint assist for Kane.

Morgan Rogers (4/10): Showed a few neat touches with his back to goal but couldn’t influence proceedings from his No.10 position. Rarely found space to run at Panama’s defence.

Attack

Bukayo Saka (5/10): Attempted a few promising dribbles but struggled to deliver a final product as he continues to regain full fitness. His corner led to Bellingham’s opener before he was substituted immediately after.

Harry Kane (6/10): Quiet in the first half but more involved after the break. Following one saved attempt, he got on the scoresheet with a clinical header, cementing his place in England’s history books.

Marcus Rashford (6/10): England’s most active attacker for much of the game, constantly threatening with his pace and direct running. His final delivery, however, often lacked precision.

Substitutes & Manager

Djed Spence (6/10): Replaced the injured Quansah and performed reliably on the right flank.

Noni Madueke (6/10): Injected energy after coming on for Saka and nearly scored late in the game.

Eberechi Eze (5/10): Introduced after Bellingham’s withdrawal but failed to make a significant impact.

Jordan Henderson (N/A): Marked a milestone by becoming the first England player to appear in seven major tournaments after replacing Anderson late on.

Ollie Watkins (N/A): Came on in the final minutes to give Kane a short rest.

Thomas Tuchel (5/10): Without Rice, his team looked vulnerable to counters and lacked attacking creativity outside of Bellingham’s brilliance. Still, he’ll be relieved to have taken three points and secured top spot.