Kane double fires England past Croatia in thrilling World Cup | World Cup 2026 news

Harry Kane scored twice, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also scored, as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their 2026 opener.

Harry Kane scored twice in the first half as England faced Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup raids in Texas.

Jude Bellingham, just before half-time, and substitute Marcus Rashford with five minutes remaining gave Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead after Croatia had held to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

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Kane’s double put England ahead in the first half – one from a penalty – only for Martin Baturina and Petar Musa to return to Croatia in the 2018 final.

With both sides reeling at the back, the second half threatened another goal, Bellingham needed just two minutes to retake England’s lead in front of a crowd of 70,000.

England had a number of chances to add to their lead in the near future, but they didn’t take them until Rashford came through.

The meeting was a repeat of the 2018 semifinal, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time, although England have been up against one of the oldest teams in the competition in North America.

Thomas Tuchel’s side, seeking their biggest victory in England since 1966, got off to a rough start in front of a packed house and an impressive Dallas Cowboys home.

Then came the drama. Croatia’s talismanic captain Luka Modric dangled a leg and caught Noni Madueke in the box.

Kane saw his controversial penalty saved by Dominik Livakovic, but France referee Clement Turpin ordered it back after video replays showed the stopper had gone off his line.

Turpin kicked Tuchel out of the Champions League and the referee who was in charge of the game was revealed to the English media this week.

Bayern Munich striker Kane made another powerful save, again to Livakovic’s left but this time more brutally to give England the lead after 12 minutes.

Now it was all up to England, and Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham – favored by Morgan Rogers in the 10th position – went up the lane, forcing Livakovic to fumble.

Loud boos were heard to break the drinks, because the match was under a roof and not the unforgiving Texas sun.

On the half hour, England should have gone 2-0 up, after Bellingham failed to connect with Madueke’s low pass.

In the 36th minute, Croatia equalized.

England wasted the ball in the middle, then Petar Sucic left John Stones down and made a good move to set up Baturina.

The 23-year-old met the ball first and whipped it past Jordan Pickford, who grabbed the ball.

Zlatko Dalic’s side were level on six minutes when Declan Rice’s corner found Kane unmarked and the driver nodded home.

It took captain Kane to 10 World Cup goals, the most by an England player alongside Gary Lineker.

Tuchel, who has made it clear that winning the World Cup is his goal, was not smiling.

Putting the seal on the first half, Musa took advantage of England’s defense in the fifth minute of injury time to convert from close range to make it 2-2.

The second half started where the first ended – with a goal – as Bellingham went unchallenged down the right and curled the ball into the corner.

Kane and Nico O’Reilly, twice each, and Bellingham had a 4-2 lead when England beat Croatia’s goal.

With 15 minutes to go and the return to England, Croatia had several chances before Rashford made the three points safe.