England’s Five-Star Route to 2026: Latvia Smashed as Kane Leads the Charge

England seal a World Cup 2026 berth with a 5-0 win in Latvia

England sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory on the road against Latvia, completing a dominant stretch in European qualifying.

Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute, finishing neatly after a well-placed pass over the Latvian defense.

Harry Kane added a second in first-half stoppage time, first from a composed finish in the box and then from the spot in the 45+3rd minute after a VAR decision confirmed a penalty for England.

A risky moment for Latvia came in the 57th minute when a defender inadvertently diverted a cross into his own net, making it 4-0 to England and draining Latvia’s belief further.

Eberechi Eze then capped the scoring in the 86th minute with a composed finish after a swift move through the middle, ensuring a five-goal cushion for the visitors.

England’s lineup showed attacking intent from the start, with Jordan Pickford in goal, a back four of Spence, Konsa, Stones and Lewis-Skelley, and a midfield trio behind the front three of Saka, Gordon, and Rogers, with Kane as the captain leading the line.

Early pressure remained constant as England dominated possession, with several chances threatened from the right and through the middle as Latvia struggled to build a meaningful response.

England pressed relentlessly in the first half, and although Latvia occasionally threatened, their replies were sporadic and often snuffed out by quick English interceptions.

After Gordon’s goal, England continued to pin Latvia back, and Kane’s late first-half penalty extended the lead, turning the match into a one-sided affair at the break.

Latvia attempted to regroup after halftime, but England’s control persisted. The third goal arrived from an own goal, a moment of fortune that underscored England’s relentless pressure.

Substitutions in the 60th minute brought fresh legs into the midfield, with Eze, Henderson and Bowen replacing Rice, Saka, and Rogers to maintain tempo and creativity.

Discipline and organization characterized England’s display as they continued to threaten, while Latvia’s defense remained stretched and exposed to swift counters.

The late goal from Eze showcased England’s depth and the quality of their attacking options, capping a comprehensive away performance.

In the end, England’s 5-0 victory confirmed their place in the 2026 World Cup, extending their remarkable run in qualifiers to six straight wins and keeping them on top with two games remaining in the group.

And to close with a touch of humor: if England’s defense were a website, it would be “loading” every time Latvia attacked—still faster than your average online buffer, but not by much. If Kane ever needs a password, it’ll be a lucky guess of “5-0anddone.”

Punchline time: you know a party is good when the scoreboard looks like a trending topic—five goals, one happy goalkeeper, and a chorus of “we’ll be back” from Latvia, who are probably already booking their next trip to the buffet after this one.