England 4–2 Croatia: World Cup 2026 Result — June 17, 2026
England beat Croatia 4-2 in a chaotic World Cup 2026 Group L opener in Dallas on June 17. Harry Kane scored twice — equalling Gary Lineker's all-time England record of 10 World Cup goals. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) fired England ahead in the 47th minute after Croatia had levelled at 2-2. Marcus Rashford, set up by Bukayo Saka, sealed the win late.
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Group L · June 17, 2026
AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas) · Att: ~80,000
England Goals
Kane 12' (pen)
Kane (2nd — corner)
Bellingham 47'
Rashford (late)
Croatia Goals
Baturina
Musa
Match Stats — England vs Croatia
| Stat | 🏴 England | 🇭🇷 Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 4 | 2 |
| Half-Time Score | 2 | 2 |
| Second Half Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Group L Points | 3 | 0 |
| Manager | Thomas Tuchel | Zlatko Dalić |
How Did England Beat Croatia 4-2? — Goal Timeline
Thomas Tuchel's side had to fight back twice in this Group L opener. Croatia, beaten finalists at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, refused to be outclassed and twice levelled at 1-1 and 2-2. But England's superior second-half quality — driven by the quality of Jude Bellingham and sharp finishing from Marcus Rashford — settled a 6-goal thriller in Dallas.
🏴 Harry Kane (pen)
Kane converts from the penalty spot. England 1-0. His 9th England World Cup goal.
🇭🇷 Martin Baturina
Croatia respond immediately — Baturina levels with a clinical finish. 1-1.
🏴 Harry Kane
Kane's second from a corner situation. England 2-1. Kane reaches 10 England WC goals — equalling Gary Lineker's 40-year record.
🇭🇷 Petar Musa
Musa slots home to make it 2-2. Croatia level at half-time. England regroup.
🏴 Jude Bellingham
Bellingham drives down the right, into the box, fires into the far corner. England 3-2. Real Madrid star delivers the decisive moment.
🏴 Marcus Rashford
Rashford finishes from a brilliant Bukayo Saka assist. England 4-2. Game over.
The first-half pattern — England score, Croatia respond — made it a nervy 45 minutes. But Bellingham's 47th-minute strike immediately after half-time broke Croatian morale, and Rashford's clinical finish from Saka's assist confirmed a winning, if chaotic, start for England at World Cup 2026.
Harry Kane Equals Gary Lineker's England World Cup Record
Harry Kane's brace against Croatia on June 17, 2026 brought him level with Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England, set at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where Lineker won the Golden Boot. Lineker held this record for 40 years. Kane, who also won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia (6 goals), has now matched that tally through just his second World Cup tournament.
Kane is 30 years old and — barring injury — will face at least two more group games and potentially five knockout rounds to break the record outright. His first goal was a penalty in the 12th minute; his second came from a corner-kick situation. Both were composed, professional finishes that underline why he remains one of the world's best strikers despite Bayern Munich's Bundesliga form being inconsistent in 2025-26.
| Player | WC Goals | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane (2026) | 10 | 2018 (6 goals, Golden Boot) + 2026 (4 goals so far) |
| Gary Lineker (1986) | 10 | 1986 (6 goals, Golden Boot) + 1990 (4 goals) |
| Geoff Hurst (1966) | 3 | 1966 (hat-trick in final) |
| Alan Shearer | 3 | 1998 |
* Kane's 2026 tally is ongoing. Record applies to England senior men's World Cup goals only.
Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid Star Delivers at World Cup 2026
Jude Bellingham's 47th-minute goal against Croatia was arguably the most important moment of the match. England were level at 2-2 and facing the kind of second-half wobble that has ended their World Cup hopes before. Instead, Bellingham drove down the right flank, cut into the penalty area, and whipped a driven shot into the far corner — the same kind of decisive big-game quality he has shown repeatedly for Real Madrid in La Liga.
Bellingham finished the 2025-26 La Liga season with 8 goals and 2 assists in 40 appearances for Real Madrid, contributing to back-to-back Champions League runs under Carlo Ancelotti. His overall La Liga record across two seasons is 87 appearances and 34 goals — a remarkable return for a midfielder. He was named in La Liga's Team of the Season for 2024-25.
At World Cup 2026, Bellingham is expected to be one of the key La Liga players in the tournament — alongside Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil) and 17 La Liga players in Spain's squad →
Player Ratings — England vs Croatia (June 17, 2026)
Bellingham was the standout with a match-winning goal and an energetic second-half display. Kane delivered when it mattered most with two expertly-taken goals. Rashford's clinical finish from Saka's assist underlined England's attacking depth. Croatia deserved credit for fighting back twice — Baturina and Musa both finished well — but Thomas Tuchel's team had too much quality to be held.
| Player | Club | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | 9/10 |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 9/10 |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 8/10 |
| Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | 8/10 |
| Martin Baturina | Club de Bruges | 7/10 |
| Petar Musa | Benfica | 7/10 |
Group L Standings — After England vs Croatia (June 17)
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🏴 England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
* Group L has 3 teams (48-team format: 12 groups of 4 or 3). England need to maintain their lead against Ghana to qualify from the group. Croatia, beaten by England on the day, still have two matches to qualify — but must not lose again.
England vs Croatia World Cup History
England and Croatia have met at three major tournaments in the past decade, and this was the first time England won. The most painful meeting was the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow, where Croatia came from behind to win 2-1 after extra time through Mario Mandžukić, knocking England out. England led through Kieran Trippier's free kick before Croatia rallied.
At UEFA Euro 2020 (played in 2021 at Wembley), England beat Croatia 1-0 in the group stage with a goal from Raheem Sterling. The reverse of that 2018 semi-final result.
A 4-2 win at the World Cup — with Kane equalling an all-time England record — is therefore a statement result against a historic rival. Thomas Tuchel will be satisfied, but will be wary of the nervy first half that saw two Croatia equalisers.
Watch More World Cup 2026
Frequently Asked Questions — England vs Croatia World Cup 2026
What was the final score of England vs Croatia at World Cup 2026?
England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup 2026 Group L opener, played in Dallas on June 17, 2026. Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham scored just two minutes into the second half, and Marcus Rashford sealed the result. Croatia equalised twice through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa before England pulled away in the second half.
How many World Cup goals does Harry Kane have for England?
With his brace against Croatia on June 17, 2026, Harry Kane reached 10 World Cup goals for England, equalling Gary Lineker's all-time England record set at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Kane is 30 years old and still has at least two more World Cup matches in this group stage to attempt to break the record outright. His goals came from the penalty spot (12th minute) and from a corner-kick situation.
Did Jude Bellingham score for England vs Croatia at World Cup 2026?
Yes. Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, scored England's third goal in the 47th minute — just two minutes into the second half — to restore England's lead after Croatia had levelled at 2-2 at half-time. He drove down the right side, entered the penalty area, and fired into the far corner. It was a decisive moment in a match that had been level at the break.
Who scored all the goals in England 4-2 Croatia?
England scorers: Harry Kane (12' pen), Harry Kane (2nd goal from a corner situation), Jude Bellingham (47'), Marcus Rashford (late, from a Bukayo Saka assist). Croatia scorers: Martin Baturina (1st equaliser) and Petar Musa (2nd equaliser, making it 2-2 at half-time). England scored twice in the second half without reply.
What group are England and Croatia in at World Cup 2026?
England and Croatia are both in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group also includes Ghana. England top Group L after their opening 4-2 win over Croatia. England's next Group L fixture is against Ghana. This is a rematch of several historic tournament meetings between England and Croatia, including the Euro 2020 (played 2021) final where Italy beat England on penalties, and the 2018 World Cup semi-final where Croatia beat England 2-1 after extra time.
Where was England vs Croatia World Cup 2026 played?
The England vs Croatia World Cup 2026 match was played in Dallas, Texas on June 17, 2026. Dallas (specifically AT&T Stadium in Arlington) is one of the 16 North American host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, spread across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, can host approximately 80,000 spectators for football (soccer) matches.
What does the result mean for Group L standings at World Cup 2026?
England top Group L with 3 points and a +2 goal difference after their opening 4-2 win over Croatia. Croatia are in second with 0 points after Matchday 1. Ghana are also in Group L. The top 2 teams from each of the 12 groups at World Cup 2026 advance to the Round of 32. England next play Ghana, while Croatia must bounce back to stay alive in the tournament.
Is Jude Bellingham still at Real Madrid at World Cup 2026?
Yes. Jude Bellingham remains at Real Madrid for World Cup 2026 in June 2026. In the 2025-26 La Liga season, Bellingham made 40 appearances and scored 8 goals, contributing 2 assists. For his Real Madrid career spanning two seasons, he has accumulated 87 appearances and 34 goals in La Liga. He turns 23 during the 2026 tournament and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football.
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Sources: Sky Sports, ESPN, France 24, FIFA Official Match Report, BBC Sport. Statistics from FIFA official data and Opta.
All facts accurate as of June 18, 2026. Group L standings will update as further fixtures are played.