Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored second-half goals as England defeated Panama 2-0 to reach the last 32 of the World Cup on Saturday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The victory secured England's place as Group L winners with seven points, setting up a tie against a third-placed team in Atlanta next Wednesday, July 1.
Bellingham Breaks the Deadlock
Real Madrid star Bellingham got on the end of a Bukayo Saka corner to break the deadlock just after the hour mark on a soggy day in New Jersey. The opening goal had been coming, and it arrived on 62 minutes as Bellingham held off Jorge Gutierrez at Saka's corner to turn the ball in.
Kane Seals the Win
Bellingham then crossed for Kane to head in the second midway through the second half. This was Kane's third goal of the tournament, moving him clear of Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 goals.
England's Path Forward
England advances to the next round on top of the group with seven points out of a possible nine. By topping the section, they avoid a possible clash with Spain in the last 16. Instead, they will face a third-placed team, with a potential match against Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium.
Panama's Struggles Continue
Panama, ranked 34th in the world, competed well but created few chances and have still never won a point at the tournament. They lost all three group games at their debut World Cup in 2018 and go out after losing all three matches this time—all without scoring.





























