England – Right-back Reece James opened the scoring as England defeated Latvia 3-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the evening of March 24.

Goals: James 38', Kane 68', Eze 76'

After winning his debut match 2-0 against Albania, head coach Thomas Tuchel continued his strong start with the "Three Lions." Except for a moment in the 18th minute when Vladislavs Gutkovskis missed an open goal following a miscommunication between goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and center-back Marc Guehi, Latvia had no other significant chances.

Meanwhile, England dominated possession with 74%, recording 27 shots, including 8 on target.

James’ Stunning Free Kick Breaks the Deadlock

In the 38th minute, Reece James broke the deadlock for England. From a direct free kick about 25 meters from goal, the Chelsea defender curled a perfect shot into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris helpless.

England’s attacking play relied heavily on the wings, where Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen provided dangerous crosses. From midfield, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice also made effective forward runs.

In the 68th minute, Rice broke free down the right side of the box before delivering a low cross for Harry Kane to tap in, doubling the lead. The captain’s goal extended his all-time England scoring record to 71 goals.

Substitutes also made an impact. In the 76th minute, about 15 minutes after replacing Bowen, Eberechi Eze dribbled skillfully down the left flank before firing a precise shot across goal to seal England’s 3-0 victory.

England Leads Group K After Two Wins

After two consecutive wins, England sits atop Group K in the European World Cup qualifiers with six points. Albania and Latvia follow with three points each, while Andorra has yet to register a point. Serbia, the other team in the group, has not yet played.

According to the regulations, the top team in the group after eight matches will secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The second-placed team will enter the playoffs, while the bottom three teams will be eliminated.

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will be the largest tournament in history (featuring 48 teams) and the longest, spanning 39 days.