Kane Equals Lineker as England Beat Croatia 4-2 in World Cup Opener

England opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, with Harry Kane scoring twice to draw level with Gary Lineker for the most World Cup goals by an England player. Kane’s brace took him to 10 in World Cup play as England began Group L with three points.

The Group L opener at Dallas Stadium, also known as AT&T Stadium, was anything but comfortable. England twice went in front in a volatile first half and Croatia twice pulled level before Jude Bellingham’s goal early in the second half restored control. Marcus Rashford then added a late fourth in a game widely framed as a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, which Croatia won after extra time.

England took the lead in the 12th minute after Noni Madueke was fouled in the penalty area by Luka Modrić. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković saved Kane’s first attempt, but a video review ordered a retake because Livaković had come off his line too early. Kane converted the second chance for 1-0. Croatia equalized in the 36th minute when Martin Baturina scored from a Petar Sučić assist. England went back in front six minutes later, Kane heading in a Declan Rice corner in the 42nd. But Croatia again found a response before halftime, with Petar Musa making it 2-2 in first-half stoppage time after Ivan Perišić supplied the assist from a Mario Pašalić pass.

England regained the lead almost immediately after the break. Bellingham scored in the 47th minute from an Elliot Anderson assist to make it 3-2, and England carried the stronger threat for much of the second half. Livaković kept Croatia within reach with several important saves, but England eventually found the cushion its performance suggested. Rashford, on as a substitute, finished from a Bukayo Saka assist in the 85th minute to seal the result.

The match carried added weight beyond the opening-day points. It was the first World Cup game for both teams in the expanded 48-team tournament and an early test for control of a group that also includes Ghana and Panama. For England, the clearest landmark came from Kane, whose two-goal night matched Lineker’s longstanding national World Cup scoring mark.

There was also a measure of revenge in the result. Eight years after Croatia ended England’s run in the 2018 semifinal, England started this tournament by beating the same opponent in a high-event opener. This time, England had the stronger finish and the goals that mattered most, leaving Dallas with a win and the early edge in Group L.