World Cup 2026 · the story so far

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England's World Cup story.

England began in Group L and finished its 2026 run in the semi-final. This is the route, match by match.

2-1-0Group record
6–2Goals
0%Current title chance

The story · Eliminated semi-finalist; third-place match still to come

England began by beating Croatia 4-2, with Harry Kane scoring twice, and was then held 0-0 by a highly compact Ghana side. It won Group L with seven points after a 2-0 victory over Panama: Jude Bellingham scored and then created Kane’s goal, which made the striker England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with eleven. In the round of 32, England trailed DR Congo before two late Kane goals produced a 2-1 win. It then beat Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16. Norway opened the scoring in the quarter-final, but Bellingham equalized and then scored the extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory. In the semi-final, Anthony Gordon put England ahead against Argentina in the 55th minute. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th, and Lautaro Martínez scored in stoppage time. England was due to face France for third place. The campaign also displayed a deeper attacking rotation than in several recent tournaments.

From the tournament notebook

Kane’s goal against Panama was his eleventh at a World Cup, surpassing Gary Lineker’s England record.

Sources ↗

Reporting through 2026-07-15

Tournament journey

  1. Group stage
    England 4–2 Croatia

    Win

  2. Group stage
    England 0–0 Ghana

    Draw

  3. Group stage
    England 2–0 Panama

    Win

  4. Round of 32
    England 2–1 Congo DR

    Win

  5. Round of 16
    England 3–2 Mexico

    Win

  6. Quarter-final
    England 1–1 Norway

    Win

  7. Semi-final
    England 1–2 Argentina

    Loss

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