Published 27 June 2026 5 min read
Men's Senior
Match Centre: Panama 0-2 England
- J. Fajardo (53′)
- A. Andrade (84′)
FULL TIME
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L
Saturday 27 June, 10:00 PM
MetLife Stadium
0
2
HT: 0 - 0
- J. Bellingham (62′)
- H. Kane (67′)
- J. Quansah (60′)
The Three Lions end FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage with victory in New Jersey
Panama v England
Group L fixture
FIFA World Cup 2026
Saturday 27 June 2026, 10pm BST
New York-New Jersey Stadium
Panama in profile
Nickname: Los Caneleros
Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Captain: Anibal Godoy
Last encounter: England 6-1 Panama, 24 June 2018, FIFA World Cup 2018
Match Stats
- Panama and England’s only previous encounter was in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup – England won 6-1, their largest World Cup victory to date.
- England’s only defeat against a CONCACAF nation at the FIFA World Cup came in 1950 against the USA (0-1). Since then, the Three Lions have three wins and three draws.
- Panama have lost all five of their FIFA World Cup matches. Prior to 2026, only three nations had lost their first six games at the finals: Mexico, El Salvador, and Canada (Haiti and Iraq also lost five from five prior to MD3 in 2026).
- England have only lost their third group game in one of their last 14 FIFA World Cup tournaments (W8 D5), a 0-1 defeat to Belgium in 2018.
- Over the first two matchdays of the FIFA World Cup 2026, no side’s matches saw fewer shots than Panama’s (32, level with Tunisia), with Los Canaleros having 19 shots and facing 13. Prior to 2026, the fewest shots for and against on record (from 1966) by any side in a three-game World Cup group was 44 by Morocco in 2022 (24 for, 20 against).
- Panama have completed 780 passes in their two FIFA World Cup games in 2026, just 25 fewer than they managed in all three games at their previous finals in 2018 (805). They have had more high turnovers (11 to 9) and pressed sequences (24 to 19) in two games in 2026 than in all three in 2018.
- Declan Rice has created ten chances at the FIFA World Cup so far, the most of any player across the first two matchdays. This is only the third instance on record (from 1966) of an England player creating ten plus chances in a single group stage at the finals, with David Beckham responsible for both of the first two (Eleven in 2002, 16 in 2006).
- Against Ghana, Marc Guéhi completed 126 passes, the most by an England player on record at a major tournament (FIFA World Cup since 1966, UEFA EURO since 1980). He also won seven fouls, making him just the second player of any nation to complete 100+ passes and win 7+ fouls on record in a FIFA World Cup game (since 1966), after Spain’s Isco v Russia in 2018 (129 passes completed, 9 fouls won).
- Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in England’s only previous encounter with Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including two goals from the penalty spot. It was England’s third hat-trick at the tournament, after Geoff Hurst (v West Germany in the 1966 final) and Gary Lineker (v Poland in 1986).
- England’s only defeat against a CONCACAF nation at the FIFA World Cup came in 1950 against the USA (0-1). Since then, the Three Lions have three wins and three draws.
- Panama have lost all five of their FIFA World Cup matches. Prior to 2026, only three nations had lost their first six games at the finals: Mexico, El Salvador, and Canada (Haiti and Iraq also lost five from five prior to MD3 in 2026).
- England have only lost their third group game in one of their last 14 FIFA World Cup tournaments (W8 D5), a 0-1 defeat to Belgium in 2018.
- Over the first two matchdays of the FIFA World Cup 2026, no side’s matches saw fewer shots than Panama’s (32, level with Tunisia), with Los Canaleros having 19 shots and facing 13. Prior to 2026, the fewest shots for and against on record (from 1966) by any side in a three-game World Cup group was 44 by Morocco in 2022 (24 for, 20 against).
- Panama have completed 780 passes in their two FIFA World Cup games in 2026, just 25 fewer than they managed in all three games at their previous finals in 2018 (805). They have had more high turnovers (11 to 9) and pressed sequences (24 to 19) in two games in 2026 than in all three in 2018.
- Declan Rice has created ten chances at the FIFA World Cup so far, the most of any player across the first two matchdays. This is only the third instance on record (from 1966) of an England player creating ten plus chances in a single group stage at the finals, with David Beckham responsible for both of the first two (Eleven in 2002, 16 in 2006).
- Against Ghana, Marc Guéhi completed 126 passes, the most by an England player on record at a major tournament (FIFA World Cup since 1966, UEFA EURO since 1980). He also won seven fouls, making him just the second player of any nation to complete 100+ passes and win 7+ fouls on record in a FIFA World Cup game (since 1966), after Spain’s Isco v Russia in 2018 (129 passes completed, 9 fouls won).
- Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in England’s only previous encounter with Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including two goals from the penalty spot. It was England’s third hat-trick at the tournament, after Geoff Hurst (v West Germany in the 1966 final) and Gary Lineker (v Poland in 1986).
Head to head
Another relatively recent World Cup opponent for England, following the first-ever and only meeting with the Central Americans at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
It was a memorable day for England too, as Gareth Southgate’s team clocked up a 6-1 victory on that occasion, thanks to a hat-trick from Harry Kane and further goals from John Stones and Jesse Lingard.
England Squad News
Reece James will miss the game with Panama through injury, while Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and Bukayo Saka have been declared fit by Thomas Tuchel.
Ticket Information
How to watch or stream
England v Panama at the World Cup will be shown live on ITV1 in the UK.
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Thomas Tuchel has made five changes to his England line-up as the Three Lions play their third and final World Cup group stage game against Panama.
With Reece James ruled out through injury, Jarell Quansah comes in for his first appearance at the competition while there's also starting berths for Morgan Rogers, Nico O'Reilly, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford in place of Anthony Gordon, Djed Spence, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice.
England go into the game in New Jersey knowing that a win will see them top the group to lock in a Round of 32 clash on Wednesday 1 July (5pm BST) with opponents to be confirmed.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Ezri Konsa, 3 Nico O'Reilly, 6 Marc Guéhi, 7 Bukayo Saka, 8 Elliot Anderson, 9 Harry Kane (c), 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Marcus Rashford, 17 Morgan Rogers, 26 Jarell Quansah
Substitutes: 4 Declan Rice, 5 John Stones, 13 Dean Henderson, 14 Jordan Henderson, 15 Dan Burn, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 17 Morgan Rogers, 18 Anthony Gordon, 19 Ollie Watkins, 20 Noni Madueke, 21 Eberechi Eze, 22 Ivan Toney, 23 James Trafford, 24 Reece James, 25 Djed Spence
With Reece James ruled out through injury, Jarell Quansah comes in for his first appearance at the competition while there's also starting berths for Morgan Rogers, Nico O'Reilly, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford in place of Anthony Gordon, Djed Spence, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice.
England go into the game in New Jersey knowing that a win will see them top the group to lock in a Round of 32 clash on Wednesday 1 July (5pm BST) with opponents to be confirmed.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Ezri Konsa, 3 Nico O'Reilly, 6 Marc Guéhi, 7 Bukayo Saka, 8 Elliot Anderson, 9 Harry Kane (c), 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Marcus Rashford, 17 Morgan Rogers, 26 Jarell Quansah
Substitutes: 4 Declan Rice, 5 John Stones, 13 Dean Henderson, 14 Jordan Henderson, 15 Dan Burn, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 17 Morgan Rogers, 18 Anthony Gordon, 19 Ollie Watkins, 20 Noni Madueke, 21 Eberechi Eze, 22 Ivan Toney, 23 James Trafford, 24 Reece James, 25 Djed Spence
Harry Kane’s record-breaking goal helped England to a 2-0 win over Panama at the FIFA World Cup 2026, to secure their position at the top of Group L.
After a difficult first half, Jude Bellingham opened the scoring from a corner, before Kane nodded home to become the Three Lions’ all-time record goalscorer at World Cups, passing Gary Lineker.
England needed to win to guarantee top-spot in the group, and they delivered.
The first major chance came eight minutes in, when Marcus Rashford cut onto his right foot and fired towards the near corner, only for Orlando Mosquera to get a strong hand behind it.
On his return to the starting lineup, Bukayo Saka also tested Mosquera early on, while Bellingham unleashed a speculative effort not long after.
After a difficult first half, Jude Bellingham opened the scoring from a corner, before Kane nodded home to become the Three Lions’ all-time record goalscorer at World Cups, passing Gary Lineker.
England needed to win to guarantee top-spot in the group, and they delivered.
The first major chance came eight minutes in, when Marcus Rashford cut onto his right foot and fired towards the near corner, only for Orlando Mosquera to get a strong hand behind it.
On his return to the starting lineup, Bukayo Saka also tested Mosquera early on, while Bellingham unleashed a speculative effort not long after.
In the 26th minute, already-eliminated Panama reminded England of the threat they posed, as Jose Luis Rodriguez unleashed a powerful shot that stung Jordan Pickford’s palms. Carlos Harvey swept another effort into the side netting.
The Three Lions began to zip the ball around in the final third, eventually finding one of Nico O’Reilly’s box-crashing runs, but he couldn’t get the requisite power. Elliot Anderson could, but his shot from range was straight down Mosquera’s throat.
Anderson then found Rashford at the far post, but the Mancunian couldn’t keep his head down.
In first-half stoppage time, his whipped free-kick flew just past the base of the right post, as England headed to the dressing rooms at 0-0.
The Three Lions began to zip the ball around in the final third, eventually finding one of Nico O’Reilly’s box-crashing runs, but he couldn’t get the requisite power. Elliot Anderson could, but his shot from range was straight down Mosquera’s throat.
Anderson then found Rashford at the far post, but the Mancunian couldn’t keep his head down.
In first-half stoppage time, his whipped free-kick flew just past the base of the right post, as England headed to the dressing rooms at 0-0.
Just five minutes after the break, England came their closest yet, with Kane unable to muddle home a cross as two Panamanians scrambled the ball over from beneath their own crossbar instead.
Rashford was set loose down the left flank but fired just wide rather than finding another man in the middle.
Panama then fired another warning shot as J. Rodriguez curled just over from a promising counter-attack.
Kane looked to respond immediately when set clean through, but his fierce shot was central enough for Mosquera to make another big save.
Just after the hour mark, the breakthrough finally came as Bellingham flung an instinctive left foot at Saka’s corner to divert the ball home to register his second goal of the tournament.
Rashford was set loose down the left flank but fired just wide rather than finding another man in the middle.
Panama then fired another warning shot as J. Rodriguez curled just over from a promising counter-attack.
Kane looked to respond immediately when set clean through, but his fierce shot was central enough for Mosquera to make another big save.
Just after the hour mark, the breakthrough finally came as Bellingham flung an instinctive left foot at Saka’s corner to divert the ball home to register his second goal of the tournament.
And just four minutes later, he turned provider, scooping a cross in from the left wing that was met by Kane, who planted his header across the keeper. The English contingent of the New York-New Jersey Stadium roared as he wheeled away to the corner flag.
Los Canaleros conjured a few chances in response, but speared both wide from the angle.
Fleet-footed play from Rashford opened up space and he latched onto the crossed return, but ultimately wasted a good opportunity for a third.
The game became slightly stretched as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes. Substitute Noni Madueke was unlucky to see his effort saved after Morgan Rogers’ cute through ball.
Panama then raced towards the other end through Jose Fajardo, who beat Pickford expertly, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.
The forward almost latched on to another ball in, but his diving header proved futile. Panama went home from the World Cup as the only goalless side, while England move through to the knockouts.
Los Canaleros conjured a few chances in response, but speared both wide from the angle.
Fleet-footed play from Rashford opened up space and he latched onto the crossed return, but ultimately wasted a good opportunity for a third.
The game became slightly stretched as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes. Substitute Noni Madueke was unlucky to see his effort saved after Morgan Rogers’ cute through ball.
Panama then raced towards the other end through Jose Fajardo, who beat Pickford expertly, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.
The forward almost latched on to another ball in, but his diving header proved futile. Panama went home from the World Cup as the only goalless side, while England move through to the knockouts.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford; 26 Jarell Quansah, 2 Ezri Konsa, 6 Marc Guehi, 3 Nico O’Reilly; 8 Elliot Anderson; 7 Bukayo Saka, 17 Morgan Rogers, 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Marcus Rashford; 9 Harry Kane
Substitutes: 25 Djed Spence for Quansah 64’, 20 Noni Madueke for Saka 64’, 21 Eberechi Eze for Bellingham 71’, 14 Jordan Henderson for Anderson 84’, 19 Ollie Watkins for Kane 84’
Subs not used: 13 Dean Henderson, 23 James Trafford, 15 Dan Burn, 5 John Stones, 12 Trevoh Chalobah, 4 Declan Rice, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 18 Anthony Gordon, 22 Ivan Toney
Head coach: Thomas Tuchel
Goals: Bellingham 62’, Kane 67’
Panama: 22 Orlando Mosquera; 23 Amir Murillo, 3 José Córdoba, 4 Fidel Escobar, 16 Andrés Andrade, 26 Jorge Gutiérrez; 11 Yoel Barcenas, 6 Cristian Martínez, 14 Carlos Harvey, 7 José Luis Rodríguez; 9 Tomás Rodríguez
Substitutes: 17 Jose Fajardo for T. Rodríguez 45’, 24 Azarias Londono for J. Rodriguez 71', 10 Ismael Diaz for Barcenas 71', 19 Alberto Quintero for Harvey 88’, 15 Eric Davis for Gutierrez 88’
Subs not used: 12 Cesar Samudio, 1 Luis Mejia, 2 Cesar Blackman, 5 Edgardo Farina, 13 Jiovany Ramos, 25 Roderick Miller, 8 Adalberto Carrasquilla, 20 Anibal Godoy, 21 Cesar Yanis, 18 Cecilio Waterman
Head coach: Thomas Christiansen
Goals: N/A
Substitutes: 25 Djed Spence for Quansah 64’, 20 Noni Madueke for Saka 64’, 21 Eberechi Eze for Bellingham 71’, 14 Jordan Henderson for Anderson 84’, 19 Ollie Watkins for Kane 84’
Subs not used: 13 Dean Henderson, 23 James Trafford, 15 Dan Burn, 5 John Stones, 12 Trevoh Chalobah, 4 Declan Rice, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 18 Anthony Gordon, 22 Ivan Toney
Head coach: Thomas Tuchel
Goals: Bellingham 62’, Kane 67’
Panama: 22 Orlando Mosquera; 23 Amir Murillo, 3 José Córdoba, 4 Fidel Escobar, 16 Andrés Andrade, 26 Jorge Gutiérrez; 11 Yoel Barcenas, 6 Cristian Martínez, 14 Carlos Harvey, 7 José Luis Rodríguez; 9 Tomás Rodríguez
Substitutes: 17 Jose Fajardo for T. Rodríguez 45’, 24 Azarias Londono for J. Rodriguez 71', 10 Ismael Diaz for Barcenas 71', 19 Alberto Quintero for Harvey 88’, 15 Eric Davis for Gutierrez 88’
Subs not used: 12 Cesar Samudio, 1 Luis Mejia, 2 Cesar Blackman, 5 Edgardo Farina, 13 Jiovany Ramos, 25 Roderick Miller, 8 Adalberto Carrasquilla, 20 Anibal Godoy, 21 Cesar Yanis, 18 Cecilio Waterman
Head coach: Thomas Christiansen
Goals: N/A