England defeat Croatia 4-2 in World Cup opener

By Aurax Desk | June 18, 2026 | 2 min read

England opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in a Group L match marked by repeated momentum shifts and a high-scoring first half. The result gives England an early lead in the group standings as teams begin competing for knockout-stage qualification.

England celebrating after scoring during the match against Croatia.

Harry Kane scored twice for England, including a penalty and a close-range finish, as both sides traded goals in a fast-paced opening period. Croatia responded through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa to level the match twice before halftime, exposing defensive gaps on both sides. England regained control after the break when Jude Bellingham drove forward to score, followed later by Marcus Rashford sealing the win with a late goal. The match highlighted England’s attacking depth while also underscoring ongoing defensive vulnerabilities.

The victory places England in a strong early position in Group L alongside Ghana and Panama, who also began their campaigns in the opening round of fixtures. Croatia, despite scoring twice, will look to recover points in their remaining group matches to stay in contention for advancement.

Sources: Information from BBC Sport, ESPN, The Guardian, The Standard.

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