La Tania does football – The England Tournament Blog
60 years of hurt…
The #EnglandAway Tournament Blog documenting our travels and misery watch the England National Football Team away from the ski season. The Ski Blog is at www.latania.co.uk/blog and there's more football stuff at La Tania does football...
England v Panama, New Jersey / New York
A miserable day of wet weather (although still pretty warm) saw us head to New Jersey’s Met Life Stadium.
Started off with Chiz’s Birthday Brunch in a rooftop bar and then cheap 3rd party coaches to the stadium with dodgy parking around the back of the service entrance to the massive American Dream Shopping & Entertainment Mall (indoor theme park reminded me of Metro Land in Gateshead from 1988).
Match Report
- Result: England 2–0 Panama
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group L
- Venue: MetLife Stadium (officially “New York/New Jersey Stadium” for the tournament)
- Attendance: 80,663
- Date: Saturday 27 June 2026
Match summary
- England laboured through a frustrating first half against a well-organised Panama side.
- The breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour when Jude Bellingham cleverly turned home a Bukayo Saka corner.
- Five minutes later, Bellingham burst down the left and crossed for Harry Kane to head in England’s second.
- England controlled the remainder of the game, finishing top of Group L and progressing to the Round of 32 with a 2–0 victory.
Goals
- 62’ – ⚽ Jude Bellingham (assist: Bukayo Saka)
- 67’ – ⚽ Harry Kane (assist: Jude Bellingham)
England starting XI
- Jordan Pickford
- Jarell Quansah
- Ezri Konsa
- Marc Guéhi
- Nico O’Reilly
- Elliot Anderson
- Jude Bellingham
- Bukayo Saka
- Morgan Rogers
- Marcus Rashford
- Harry Kane (captain)
England substitutions
- 63’ Djed Spence ⬅️ Jarell Quansah
- 63’ Noni Madueke ⬅️ Bukayo Saka
- 71’ Eberechi Eze ⬅️ Jude Bellingham
- 84’ Ollie Watkins ⬅️ Harry Kane
- 84’ Jordan Henderson ⬅️ Elliot Anderson
Panama starting XI
- Orlando Mosquera
- José Córdoba
- Fidel Escobar
- Cristian Martínez
- José Luis Rodríguez
- Tomás Rodríguez
- Édgar Yoel Bárcenas (captain)
- Carlos Harvey
- Andrés Andrade
- Amir Murillo
- Jorge Gutiérrez
Panama substitutions
- Half-time José Fajardo ⬅️ Tomás Rodríguez
- 71’ Ismael Díaz ⬅️ Édgar Bárcenas
- 71’ Azarías Londoño ⬅️ José Luis Rodríguez
- 88’ Alberto Quintero ⬅️ Carlos Harvey
- 88’ Eric Davis ⬅️ Jorge Gutiérrez
Player of the Match: Jude Bellingham — scored the opener, created Kane’s goal and was England’s standout performer in a much-improved second half.
And from 16 years ago today… South Africa 2010 World Cup
