Panama wall holds England: 0-0 at the break

England were held to a goalless first half against Panama in the final round of Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over the opening 45 minutes at MetLife Stadium, England dominated completely but could not break down Panama's disciplined defense.

Needing a win to finish top of the group, Thomas Tuchel's side controlled the game from start to finish. With Bukayo Saka making his first start of the tournament, England camped in the opposition half and pinned Panama back inside their own box. The clearest chance came in the 45+3rd minute, when Marcus Rashford's free kick flew just wide of the right post.

Panama, under Thomas Christiansen, opted to sit deep with a back five and look for counters. Hemmed in, the Central American side offered no real threat in the first half.

The statistics lay bare the imbalance on the pitch. England dominated possession with 72% and led the shot count 9-3. In expected goals (xG), England reached 0.49 to Panama's 0.15, while the gulf in touches inside the opposition box read 18-2 in England's favor. Neither side, however, fashioned a big chance.

In a match officiated by Qatar's Abdulrahman Al Jassim, England's superiority was not reflected on the scoreboard. The second half hinges on whether Tuchel's team can turn that pressure into a goal, and how long Panama can hold out.

Image: Yahoo Sports