England maintained their flawless World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with a professional, if unspectacular, 2-0 victory over Serbia at a subdued Wembley Stadium. First-half strikes from Bukayo Saka and a late curler from substitute Eberechi Eze secured the three points, ensuring the Three Lions have won all seven of their Group K matches.
The result, coupled with other group outcomes, officially confirms England's place at the finals next summer with two games to spare. Manager Thomas Tuchel will be pleased with the outcome and another clean sheet, even if the performance lacked the attacking verve he had demanded from his squad.
Saka's Volley Breaks the Deadlock
The match began in a sleepy fashion, with Serbia setting up in a compact 4-5-1 formation under new manager Veljko Paunovic. England struggled to find rhythm early on, with the lack of atmosphere in a sparsely populated Wembley contributing to the flat start. The first significant cheer from the home crowd was for a paper plane that landed on the pitch.
The breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute. A Declan Rice free-kick led to a weak punch from Serbia's goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic. The ball fell to debutant Nico O'Reilly, whose shot deflected out to Bukayo Saka on the right side of the box. The Arsenal winger adjusted his body expertly and unleashed a sublime left-footed volley that caressed the ball into the far corner of the net.
Eze Seals the Deal on the Counter
England continued to probe, with Marcus Rashford looking lively on the left flank, though his final product was often lacking. Serbia offered little in response, allowing Jordan Pickford to extend his remarkable run of clean sheets for the national team; he has not conceded a goal since October of last year.
Tuchel made a quadruple substitution in the 64th minute, introducing Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Eberechi Eze, among others. The changes injected fresh energy. Serbia had a rare chance moments later, with Dusan Vlahovic flicking a Filip Kostic cross just wide of the far post.
As the game opened up, Eberechi Eze put the result beyond doubt. After seeing one earlier effort crash off the crossbar, the Crystal Palace midfielder found the net in the 75th minute. A move involving Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden ended with Eze receiving the ball on the edge of the area and bending a beautiful first-time shot into the far corner, leaving Rajkovic with no chance. Serbia protested for a foul in the build-up, but the goal stood.
Looking Ahead to the Finals
The victory means England travel to face Albania in Tirana on Sunday with their place at the World Cup 2026 finals already secure. While this was not a performance that will live long in the memory, it was a testament to the team's consistency and ability to secure results even on an off-night.
The serious business of the tournament itself awaits next summer, but for now, England's perfect qualifying record remains intact, built on a foundation of seven wins from seven and a rock-solid defence.
