Harry Kane delivered when it mattered most. The England captain scored twice in the first half, tying Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for the Three Lions, as Thomas Tuchel’s side opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The moment the tweet from FIFA simply read “Harry Kane.” with that image of him roaring in celebration told the story. This was his night.
Kane struck first from the penalty spot after Noni Madueke was brought down. The initial kick was saved, but the referee ordered a retake. Kane stayed ice cold on the second attempt and slammed it home. The stadium shook. England had the lead.
Minutes later he struck again. Declan Rice whipped in a corner, Kane rose highest, and his header flew past the goalkeeper. Two goals. Ten World Cup goals for England. Level with a legend.
Croatia refused to go away. They pulled one back before the break, then equalized early in the second half. The tension inside AT&T Stadium was real. England had dominated long spells but kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas.
Then Jude Bellingham took over. The Real Madrid midfielder drove forward and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner to restore the lead. The relief was palpable. Marcus Rashford, introduced from the bench, sealed the points late on with a clinical finish after a swift counter.
Harry Kane.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/gm19FcHDog
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026
England looked like a team still settling under new management in the first half. Too many loose passes. Too much respect for a Croatia side that reached the 2018 final. But the second half showed what this group can be when they click. Direct. Aggressive. Clinical.
Kane was at the heart of it all. The Bayern Munich striker has now scored in every major tournament he has played for England. At 32, he is playing with the freedom of a man who knows this could be his last realistic shot at lifting the trophy on home soil in 2028. He led the line, held the ball up, pressed, and delivered in the moments that count.
The official FIFA post captured the emotion perfectly. Just his name and that image of pure release. No extra words needed. The football did the talking.
England sit top of Group L after matchday one. Ghana and Panama still to come in the group. The job is far from done, but nights like this build belief. Kane has given them the perfect start and written his name deeper into English football history.
The road to glory in 2026 just got a little clearer. Captain Kane is leading the way.
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