England vs Croatia: Kane Brace and Bellingham Sink Croatia 4-2
Updated 17 June 2026.
England vs Croatia at World Cup 2026 finished 4-2 to England, a seven-goal Group L opener in Arlington settled by Harry Kane’s first-half brace and a Jude Bellingham strike straight after the restart. Croatia twice threatened a leveller through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa, but Marcus Rashford’s late finish put the result beyond doubt and avenged England’s 2018 semi-final exit to the same opponents.
| Match facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | England 4-2 Croatia |
| Competition | World Cup 2026, Group L |
| Venue | AT&T Stadium, Arlington (att. 70,389) |
| England scorers | Kane 12′ (pen), 42′; Bellingham 47′; Rashford 85′ |
| Croatia scorers | Baturina 36′; Musa 45+5′ |
| Referee | Clément Turpin (France) |
How England survived Croatia’s fightback
Harry Kane set the tone from the penalty spot on 12 minutes, then doubled England’s lead on 42 with a trademark finish that looked to have made the contest one-sided. Croatia had other ideas. Martin Baturina pulled one back on 36 minutes, and Petar Musa levelled it up at 2-2 deep into first-half stoppage time, turning a routine afternoon into a genuine contest at the break.
England answered immediately. Jude Bellingham restored the lead just two minutes into the second half, and Marcus Rashford added a fourth on 85 minutes to settle any remaining nerves. The 4-2 scoreline flattered Croatia’s resistance in patches, but England’s quality in front of goal across four different scorers proved decisive.
Bellingham’s record-breaking night
Beyond the scoreline, Bellingham’s appearance carried its own history: starting against Croatia made him the youngest European player to feature at four major tournaments, Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024 and now World Cup 2026, doing so before turning 23. It capped a personal milestone inside a match he also helped win with a crucial second-half goal.
What England vs Croatia World Cup 2026 means for Group L
England top Group L after round one on goal difference, with the win putting early daylight between them and a Croatia side that will need a response against Panama or Ghana to keep pace. Ghana’s 1-0 win over Panama on the same day means all four sides have now played, leaving the group wide open beyond England’s strong start. Follow every table on our standings page.
What is next
Both sides return to Group L action, with kick-offs on our fixtures page and goals live on live scores. Catch up on the rest of the day’s Group K and L openers in our June 17 preview hub, revisit our pre-match preview, and see the format, venues and full schedule in our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in England vs Croatia?
England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup 2026 Group L opener on 17 June at AT&T Stadium, with Harry Kane scoring twice.
Who scored England’s goals against Croatia?
Harry Kane scored twice (a 12th-minute penalty and a 42nd-minute finish), Jude Bellingham added a third in the 47th minute, and Marcus Rashford scored a fourth on 85 minutes.
Did Croatia threaten a comeback?
Yes, Martin Baturina and Petar Musa scored either side of half-time to make it 2-2, before England pulled away in the second half.
Source: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L.
