Kane scores twice as England defeats Croatia 4-2 in World Cup opener

England made a triumphant start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Croatia 4-2 in a Group L encounter at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday. The victory proved particularly significant given the teams' history: Croatia eliminated England in the 2018 World Cup semifinal, winning 2-1 after extra time on their way to the tournament final.

Harry Kane was the standout performer, scoring twice in the opening match of his third World Cup as England captain. Kane opened the scoring in the 12th minute from the penalty spot after an initial save by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was ruled void by VAR for encroachment. Kane converted on his retaken attempt, sending the ball toward the right post while Livakovic moved the opposite direction. Kane added his second goal in the 42nd minute with a powerful header from a Declan Rice corner, reaching 10 goals in World Cup history and matching Gary Lineker's England record. Kane is the first English player to score in three separate World Cup tournaments.

The match was fiercely competitive, with both teams trading goals throughout. Croatia equalized at 36 minutes when Martin Baturina's powerful strike found the net after a Petar Sucic cutback. The visitors leveled again just before halftime when Petar Musa tapped home from close range following Ivan Perisic's clipped pass. England reasserted control in the second half, with Jude Bellingham restoring the lead just two minutes after the restart, driving powerfully into the penalty area from a long pass by Elliot Anderson. Marcus Rashford sealed the victory in the 85th minute with a composed finish into the far corner.

Coach Thomas Tuchel praised Kane's all-around performance, highlighting his defensive work and leadership. Kane made a crucial last-minute defensive contribution in the 94th minute, blocking a close-range Croatian shot in front of his own goal. Kane, who has 81 international goals, described his physical and mental condition as the best of his career and emphasized England's second-half intensity as their greatest strength moving forward.

England's next fixture is against Ghana in Boston on June 23, while Croatia faces Panama in Toronto. The victory provides England with a strong foundation as they pursue their first World Cup title after previous tournament disappointments, including a quarterfinal loss to France in 2022 when Kane missed a crucial late penalty.