Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored early in the second half, lifting England over Panama 2-0 and into what appears to be a more favourable bracket for the knockout phase of the World Cup.
On a rainy afternoon before a vocal pro-England crowd that made MetLife Stadium seem like Wembley, Panama held the European power scoreless through a first half when neither team mounted threats, and Kane had 10 touches, the fewest of any player.
Bellingham put the Three Lions ahead in the 62nd minute from Bukayo Saka's corner kick. Held in bear hug by Jorge Gutierrez at the top of the 6-yard box, Bellingham stuck out his left leg and stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his third World Cup goal, his second this year.
Five minutes later, Bellingham crossed from the left flank, and Kane outjumped Andres Andrade to head the ball in for his 82nd international goal. Kane became England's record World Cup scorer with his 11th goal, one more than Gary Lineker.
Croatia vs Ghana
In the other game, Nikola Vlasic headed a late winner to send Croatia into the World Cup round of 32 with a 2-1 victory over Ghana.
Vlasic's 83rd-minute finish from a Luka Modric corner snatched back the lead 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen poked in an equaliser from a free kick to cancel out Petar Sucic's long-range strike in the first half.
Croatia finished second in Group L behind England.
Ghana ended up third in the group but had already secured a place in the last 32 following a 1-0 win over Panama and a 0-0 draw with England.
