England booked their place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage as Group winners with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Panama, thanks to second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane.
The win not only secured England’s progression but also marked a historic personal milestone for Kane, who became England’s all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. His goal against Panama took his World Cup tally to 11, surpassing the previous record of 10 goals held by legendary striker Gary Lineker.
England dominated possession and dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, creating several promising opportunities in the first half. However, despite sustained pressure on Panama’s defense, Thomas Tuchel’s side was unable to find the breakthrough before the interval. Panama, meanwhile, threatened occasionally on the counterattack, forcing England to remain alert at the back.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when Jude Bellingham found the back of the net to give England a deserved lead.
Just five minutes later, Harry Kane doubled the advantage with a clinical finish in the 67th minute, sealing both the victory and a place in the record books.
Neither side managed to add to the scoreline, and England comfortably saw out the match to claim a 2-0 win, finishing top of their group and advancing to the knockout stage with growing confidence.