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Kane Brace Seals England’s Perfect 2026 World Cup Qualifying With 2-0 Win in Albania

Tuchel’s reshuffled squad closed qualifying without conceding, boosting expectations for next year’s tournament in North America.

Overview

  • England finished UEFA qualifying 8-0-0 with 22 goals scored and none conceded to confirm its World Cup berth.
  • Harry Kane struck in the 74th and 82nd minutes in Tirana, taking his England record to 78 goals in 112 caps.
  • Thomas Tuchel made eight changes for the finale, starting Jude Bellingham on his return and handing Dean Henderson the clean sheet in goal.
  • The result extended England’s run to a reported ninth consecutive official shutout.
  • Albania heads to the playoff for a chance to reach 2026, while Serbia closed the group with a 2-1 comeback win over Latvia.