PanamavsEngland

England saw off Panama 2–0. Goalscorers — England: J. Bellingham 62', H. Kane 67'.

Panama met England in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on Saturday, June 27, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group L, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

England go in ranked 4th in the FIFA World Ranking to Panama's 33rd — a gap of 29 places that gives England the edge on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — Panama of CONCACAF against England of UEFA — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

Panama's qualification for the 2018 World Cup was one of the most emotional moments in CONCACAF football history, with the entire nation erupting in celebration and the president declaring a national holiday. Los Canaleros have built on that achievement and established themselves as a competitive force in the region.

England approach the 2026 World Cup with a squad widely regarded as one of the most talented generations in the country's history, yet still haunted by near-misses at recent major tournaments. Runners-up at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, and semifinalists at the 2018 World Cup, the Three Lions have consistently been among the last teams standing without quite crossing the finish line.

Panama: Panama appeared at their first and only World Cup in 2018 in Russia, where they were drawn into a group with Belgium, England, and Tunisia. England: England won their sole World Cup in 1966, famously beating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick that included the controversial third goal.

The match is scheduled at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 09:00 PM (05:00 PM ET).