England fans erupted in celebration at pubs across the country as the Three Lions stormed to a 2-0 victory in their World Cup clash against Panama. 

The win tonight means Thomas Tuchel’s side finish top of Group L and move comfortably into the final 32, despite Tuesday’s agonising draw against Ghana. 

Supporters threw their beers in the air when in the 62nd minute Jude Bellingham scored the opener after the first half ended goalless. 

And captain Harry Kane doubled the lead minutes later, a record 11th goal for England in World Cup finals matches – taking him past fellow former Tottenham Hotspur striker Gary Lineker’s 10. 

More than 15,000 England supporters travelled to New Jersey for the match, while millions more watched the game in the UK. 

Three Lions legend Paul Gascoigne, who represented the team between 1988 and 1998, was seen partying at BOXPark Wembley ahead of a screening of the match. 

Other keen supporters donned knights costumes, St George’s flags and red and white face paint to mark the occasion. 

Many started on the beers well ahead of the opening whistle – as an estimated 40million pints were expected to be downed at homes and in pubs tonight. 

England fans celebrate at Ultra Warehouse Derby as England scores against Panama

Paul Gascoigne is pictured at BOXPark Wembley on Saturday evening 

England fans celebrate after Jude Bellingham’s goal as they watch a screening of the match at Depot Mayfield, Manchester

Fans jumped onto the tables as they celebrated an England victory on Saturday night 

England fans pack the Fanzone in Times Square in Newcastle city centre tonight

Thousands of bars have stayed open later than usual for the big game, after many secured special licences.

The retail giant Voucher Codes estimated £206 million would be spent on food and drink for parties at home, with £104 million more splashed in pubs.

Expectations had been running high for a Three Lions victory against Panama, who are ranked 42 in the world.

Some who were supporting the team in the US said they had already booked non-refundable flights to Atlanta, Georgia, for Wednesday’s last-32 tie. 

Speaking from the American Dream shopping centre, next to the New Jersey Stadium, hours before kick-off, Cambridge United fan Sam Gisby, 28, said: ‘I think we’ll do the business. I am going to go for a 3-0 win.’

Liverpool fan Rob Hindhauth, 26, said: ‘Yeah I’ll go 4-0 – it obviously wasn’t great last time out but I don’t think they’re a great side.’

Questioned on whether he would be checking the result of the match between Ghana and Croatia, Mr Gisby said: ‘England have got one job, they’ve just got to go and do it – we’ll worry about the rest later.’

Both friends, who now live in London, said they believed the 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday was a ‘reality check’.

Mr Hindhauth said: ‘We’re actually going on (to the next round), so it’s pretty stressful because we’ve booked the next two weeks on the assumption that England win the group.

Fans watch the match at BOXPARK Wembley following kick off at 10pm 

Supporters in London threw their fists into the air as England scored a second goal 

Fans play beer pong in Bear Island before a screening of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Panama

Shirts came off as England supporters celebrated a goal during the match on Saturday night 

Thomas Tuchel’s side kicked off their final group game at 10pm tonight – with a win almost guaranteeing them a first place finish in Group L. Pictured: Crowds at BOXPARK Wembley 

England fans are packing out pubs both in the Big Apple and back home ahead of the Three Lions’ World Cup clash with Panama

England fans ahead of a screening of the FIFA World Cup match between Panama and England at Depot Mayfield, Manchester

Fans hold England flags at BOXPark Wembley in London tonight 

England fans at Broomfields in the CopperJax Community Stadium, London

England supporters stand outside as they wait to watch the game at The Clock pub in Hebburn, north-east England

‘I think we’re going to Atlanta next, we’ve got flights to Nashville, taking the bus across then Mexico.

‘So if we did come second, it would be panic stations.’

Mr Gisby added: ‘We’ve got a lot tied up in England winning today, so that is quite stressful.’

They said their trip so far had cost them £3,000, with non-refundable flights to Atlanta booked around six months ago.

Preston supporters Ryan Kennedy and Joe English, both 29, arrived hours before kick-off at the MetLife Stadium in ponchos and Statue of Liberty hats they had bought for three dollars from Times Square.

Mr Kennedy said: ‘I think we should win comfortably – a bit of a hiccup in the second game, but that happens – it’s England.’

His friend Mr English added: ‘A comfortable win – three or four-nil, I reckon.’

England fans ahead of a screening of the FIFA World Cup match between Panama and England at Depot Mayfield, Manchester

Expectations are running high for a Three Lions victory against Panama, who are ranked 42 in the world

General view inside the stadium during the national anthems before the match

Asked whether he would be keeping an eye on the match between Ghana and Croatia, Mr Kennedy said: ‘Yeah, I think whichever route we get it’ll be difficult, won’t it?

‘But you’ve got to beat the best to win the competition.’

‘I’ll be on the phone checking notifications – I don’t know what signal is like in there but we’ll find out.’

Meanwhile, Peter Harding, 74, from the north east town of Whitley Bay, speaking in New York on Friday, said: ‘You could get a team from Brooklyn that would beat Panama.

‘A team from Whitley Bay would give Panama a good game.’

Richie Slaughter, 35, from Hexham in Northumberland, said: ‘I think we’ve got a good chance tomorrow.

‘Hopefully we beat them anyway – we’ve already booked the flights to Atlanta and a non-refundable one, so praying they’ll get the win tomorrow.

‘I don’t know why, but we booked them the morning of the Ghana game, and then that obviously didn’t go to plan… but I’m still positive we’ll be there.’

Despite sharing Mr Slaughter’s confidence, other fans were more hesitant on planning for the knockout stages.

Bradley Littlechild, 30, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: ‘So we’ve booked hotels where you can do the cancellation for Toronto and Atlanta.

Three Lions legend Paul Gascoigne, who represented the team between 1988 and 1998, was seen partying at BOXPark Wembley ahead of a screening of the game

England fans outside the New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday 

More than 15,000 England supporters have travelled to New Jersey for the match, millions more are expected to watch the game in the UK

England fans are seen at a bar in the US ahead of the game 

‘We haven’t booked our flights yet, so as soon as the game finishes, we need to book flights or a bus or something, because I think the flights have gone up.

‘It’s something like 350 dollars so it’s just going to sting us. And we’ve obviously got to pay for the hotel and then we’ve got to go back to New York to fly back to London – so it’s a journey.

‘We’re here because we follow England home and away. It’s just money at the end of the day – I don’t think you can put a price on watching England at the World Cup.’

He added: ‘It’s England and it’s football – we’re all betting men and I think we would like to say that England are going to go through, but for the sake of spending 500-600 dollars, that’d be a very sore one if you have to then pay money to go to Toronto.’

Giving his thoughts on England’s chances against Panama, Mr Littlechild said: ‘Arrogantly, we should beat them – but someone asked…. what was my prediction for the Ghana game and I said 4-0.

‘But I think tomorrow we should beat them, I’d like to say two to 3-0.’

Supporters have also said transport to the game in New Jersey from New York has also been expensive.

Mr Slaughter said: ‘We’re on the train to the ground tomorrow, so I think that was – well they reduced it, but I think it was about 90 dollars or something like that.

‘But we’ve got to get there somehow.’

Another supporter getting the train, Blackpool fan Tom Wilson, 32, who now lives in Buckinghamshire, said: ‘Whilst I think it’s very expensive, it looks like the best option given some of the videos I’ve seen on the internet of traffic etc.

‘I hate to say it’s worth it, given that, but it seems to be so.’