Harry Kane has set yet another goalscoring record after opening the scoring in the England national team’s friendly victory over New Zealand.
The England captain scored the only goal of the match, giving the Three Lions a 1-0 lead just before halftime in their first pre-World Cup friendly at Raymond James Stadium in Florida (USA).
Kane broke the deadlock in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Djed Spence’s precise cross into the penalty area allowed the Bayern Munich striker to head the ball into the far corner of the net.
The goal arrived at the perfect moment for Thomas Tuchel’s side, relieving any tension within the squad as they seemed destined to head into the break goalless.
This was not only the Bayern Munich star’s 67th goal of the season, but it also etched his name further into the England record books. Finding the back of the net in Tampa marked Kane’s first-ever goal on American soil and his 21st goal for England in a different country.
This achievement means Harry Kane has now scored for England in more different countries than any other player in Three Lions history. Wayne Rooney previously held the record, having scored in 20 different nations worldwide during his international career.
Following the match, Kane spoke frankly about the challenging conditions, insisting that it will serve as the perfect preparation for him and his teammates ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“It was great. Obviously, the most important thing is winning. But clearly, we are here primarily to prepare. We are here to deal with the heat. We are here to get used to the pitches that will be used in the summer,” Kane expressed.
“Yeah, it wasn’t an easy game. However, I think the weather wasn’t too bad. I think England played well in both halves. Off the ball, the match intensity was very high. But on the ball, things felt a bit dry, a bit stuck. England struggled to find their rhythm. But ultimately, it’s just about building fitness; we will carry that into the next friendly and then the World Cup.”
