Key takeaways
- England beat Panama 2-0 on 27 June to finish top of Group L, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane on the scoresheet.
- Kane's goal was his 11th at World Cups, passing Gary Lineker's long-standing England record of 10.
- Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to take second in the group; Ghana finished third.
- England now meet a third-placed side in the Round of 32 and look one of the form teams in the bracket.
England signed off the group stage in style. A 2-0 win over Panama on 27 June secured top spot in Group L — and handed captain Harry Kane a place in the history books as England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer.
What happened: Bellingham and a record-breaker from Kane
England controlled the contest against a stubborn Panama side and made the breakthrough after the interval through Jude Bellingham. Kane then settled it with the second, the goal that mattered most for the record books: it was his 11th at World Cup finals, lifting him clear of Gary Lineker, who had held England’s record on 10 goals since Italia ‘90.
Kane had already drawn level with Lineker during the group stage, so the milestone was coming — but doing it on the night England topped the group made it a fitting headline. The 2-0 scoreline, the goalscorers and the record are corroborated by Yahoo Sports, AOL and Wikipedia’s Group L summary, with Lineker himself among those paying tribute.
The result locked in the final Group L picture: England first, Croatia second after a 2-1 win over Ghana, and Ghana eliminated in third. England carry real momentum into the knockouts — for the wider lay of the land, see our Round of 32 qualified tracker.
The betting angle: form, records and a kind-looking draw
A group winner with a settled, in-form striker is exactly the kind of profile markets price up — sometimes too far.
- Top spot has value beyond bragging rights. Winning the group typically means a third-placed opponent in the Round of 32, a softer draw on paper. How that shapes England’s route is the kind of question we break down in our knockout bracket betting guide.
- A hot Golden Boot contender moves outright prices. Kane’s goals don’t just win matches — they shorten England’s tournament odds and his own top-scorer price. Track where that race stands in our Golden Boot race update.
- Beware backing a favourite purely on a feel-good night. Records and clean sheets tempt bettors into short prices. Understanding what those odds actually imply is covered in football betting odds explained.
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Bottom line
England look the part: top of the group, a clean sheet, and a captain in record-breaking form. That makes them a live outright contender — but it also means the easy value has already been backed. Wait for the Round of 32 draw to firm up and judge the matchup, not just the momentum.
Bet only what you can afford to lose. Set a budget before kickoff and stick to it. If betting stops being fun, take a break — see our responsible gambling resources. Strictly 18+.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in England vs Panama?
England beat Panama 2-0 on 27 June 2026 in their final Group L match in New Jersey. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the second half and Harry Kane added the second to seal top spot in the group.
What record did Harry Kane break?
Kane scored his 11th career World Cup goal, moving past Gary Lineker's tally of 10 to become England's outright all-time leading scorer at World Cup tournaments. He had drawn level with Lineker earlier in the group stage.
