Goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane saw England beat Albania 2-0 at Wembley Stadium in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. 

Lewis-Skelly fired England ahead from a 19th-minute through ball played by Jude Bellingham which he finished on his debut appearance.

Victory was wrapped up in Thomas Tuchel’s first match as manager with an on-the-turn 77th-minute strike from Kane, after the captain met Declan Rice’s cross into the box.

England now sit top of Qualifying Group J on goal difference from Latvia who beat Andorra 1-0 in their opening qualifier.

Despite Tuchel taking charge as England’s new permanent manager, the opening minutes failed to offer much fresh hope from Gareth Southgate’s reign – aside from increased urgent intensity and movement on the ball as the team continued to lack a cutting clinical edge.

The opening 19 minutes were so dreary quality-wise that it took a quick through-ball from Bellingham to create England’s breakthrough moment, with Lewis-Skelly alert on the overlap with a quick cut-in run from the left flank to left-foot past Thomas Strakosha to put the hosts ahead with the first goal of the Tuchel era.

Albania otherwise resiliently dug deep defensively to frustrate England in the opening half which worked as the Three Lions struggled to build on Lewis-Skelly’s opening goal before half-time.

England however could of been two goals up at the break from two debut goalscorers but Dan Burn’s 42nd-minute header was saved by Strakosha.

Any hope of England hitting higher gears in the second half failed to materialise despite their dominance as Marcus Rashford broke forward in the 59th minute, but his fumbled touch fell for Bellingham to cross but Harry Kane headed wide across goal.

Fans who kept patience throughout the frustrations of this match were rewarded with a clinical strike in the 77th minute, as Kyle Walker cut back for Rice to cross into the box which Kane met and fired into the right corner on the turn to seal victory in a confident if hard-grinded display.

What’s Next?

England will be back at Wembley on Monday 24 March to play Latvia in their second qualifier in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off.

Albania will host Andorra at the same time on that date in their second qualifier of the group.

Teams

England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly (James 90′), Declan Rice (Henderson 82′), Curtis Jones (Rogers 74′), Phil Foden (Bowen 74′), Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford (Gordon 74′), Harry Kane

Substitutes: Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Marc Guehi, Dean Henderson, Reece James, Tino Livramento, Morgan Rogers, Levi Colwill, Dominic Solanke, James Trafford

Albania: Thomas Strakosha (Kastrati 82′), Ivan Balliu, Arlind Ajeti, Berat Djimsiti, Naser Aliji, Qazim Laci (Pajziti 78′), Yiber Ramadani, Kristjan Asllani, Jasir Asani (Hoxha 78′), Myrto Uzuni, Nedim Bajrami (Broja 63′)

Substitutes: Medon Berisha, Armando Broja, Arber Hoxha, Ardian Ismajli, Elhan Kastrati, Marash Kumbulla, Rey Manaj, Enea Mihaj, Ernest Muci, Adrion Pajziti, Julian Shehu, Alen Sherri

Related