England face Panama in the closing game of their 2026 World Cup group stage, a fixture that on paper should present few problems given the history between the two sides.
With Panama vs England betting reflecting that expectation heavily in the Three Lions’ favour, it is worth revisiting what happened the last time these sides met on the World Cup stage, a Sunday afternoon in Nizhny Novgorod in June 2018 that produced the most emphatic result in England’s World Cup history.
The Build-Up
Both sides arrived at the match having played one game each in Group G. England had edged past Tunisia 2-1 in Volgograd, Harry Kane scoring twice, including a dramatic injury-time winner that set the tone for what promised to be an exciting tournament.
Panama, making their debut World Cup appearance, had been beaten 3-0 by Belgium in their opener but had shown enough defensive organisation to hold the Red Devils until the second half. The Central Americans were given almost no chance against England, but the occasion of their first-ever World Cup match was a source of immense national pride.
Gareth Southgate made one enforced change from the Tunisia win, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming in for the injured Dele Alli. The temperature at kick-off in Nizhny Novgorod exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, and Panama set up with six at the back and three in midfield, intent on making England patient and frustrated. It did not go to plan.
The First Half
England started in surprisingly sluggish fashion, but the opening goal arrived after just eight minutes. Kieran Trippier’s corner was met by John Stones at the near post, who stooped to head home for his first-ever England goal. Panama barely had time to regroup before the game began unravelling around them.
In the 22nd minute, Jesse Lingard was fouled in the box by Fidel Escobar, and Kane converted the penalty with authority. 14 minutes later, England’s third arrived, and it was the goal of the match. Lingard picked up the ball outside the area, cut inside, and curled a stunning right-footed strike into the top corner from 25 yards.
The stadium was still processing it when Stones headed his second from another Trippier delivery in the 40th minute, a brilliantly worked set-piece routine that left Panama’s defenders bewildered.
Kane made it five before half-time with a second penalty after he had been wrestled to the ground in the box, converted with the same composure as the first. England were 5-0 up at the interval. It was only the fifth time in World Cup history that a side had scored five goals before half-time, and the first since Germany’s extraordinary 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the 2014 semi-final.
The Second Half
The tempo inevitably dropped after the interval. Panama coach Hernan Gomez, in a moment that summed up the occasion, was seen gesturing to Southgate at the touchline to ease off. It had no effect on the outcome, but England’s intensity did reduce naturally as the game became academic.
Kane completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute in the most fortuitous of circumstances. Loftus-Cheek’s shot from 20 yards skimmed off his heel and diverted into the net. Kane knew nothing about it. It mattered not.
He had scored five World Cup goals in two games and had become the tournament’s leading scorer, placing him in illustrious England company alongside Gary Lineker and Geoff Hurst as players to score multiple goals in each of their first two World Cup appearances.
Panama’s consolation came in the 78th minute when Felipe Baloy slid in to convert Ricardo Avila’s free-kick. At 37 years old, Baloy became the third-oldest player to score their first World Cup goal, behind only Roger Milla and Sweden’s Gunnar Gren.
For Panama’s supporters, it was a moment of genuine celebration amid a heavy defeat, the first World Cup goal in their nation’s history, and they embraced it accordingly. World Cup betting markets heading into 2026 will reflect England as strong favourites to repeat the result, but Panama will carry the memory of that Baloy moment wherever they go in this tournament.
Southgate’s Verdict
The post-match reaction from England’s manager captured his character perfectly. Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Southgate was characteristically measured rather than euphoric. “I didn’t like the start and I didn’t like their goal at the end,” he said. “I guess the bits in the middle were pretty good, but I am being hyper-critical.” He added, with a smile: “It’s strange because I enjoyed the win against Tunisia more, because of the tension and the fact you get over the line. I know how many people were watching at home on a Sunday afternoon and it’s great to give them something to cheer about.”
England’s biggest ever World Cup victory. A hat-trick for Kane. A brace for Stones. A Lingard screamer. Eight years on, the two sides meet again in North America. Panama will be better prepared. England will expect nothing less than the same outcome.
