WATCH: Jude Bellingham scores England's opening goal at World Cup 2022
World Cup 2022 starts with a bang for England's Jude Bellingham, heading the first goal for the Three Lions
Jude Bellingham has scored England's first goal of World Cup 2022.
With the build-up of the opening match against Iran dominated by conversation of the OneLove armband that Harry Kane was set to wear as captain, only for BBC pundit Alex Scott to wear it.
The game was stopped for about 10 minutes, too, when Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was injured after a collision with one of his own players, following a cross from Harry Kane.
Hey Jude! ✨Jude Bellingham heads home for his first England goal on the biggest stage!England 1-0 Iran💻🖥📱 Watch on @BBCiPlayer, listen on @BBCSounds, get more on the @BBCSport app#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/rX4xS58WwUNovember 21, 2022
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a stunning header from a Luke Shaw cross, meeting the ball and becoming the third-youngest player to have ever scored at a tournament for the Three Lions. The youngest still remains Michael Owen, with his goal against Romania at France '98.
Bellingham also becomes the first player to have scored for England at a tournament while playing for a European club since David Beckham in 2006.
Bukayo Saka scored a stunning volley with his left foot shortly after, banishing some of the demons of the Euro 2020. Saka, infamously, missed the decisive penalty at Wembley that resulted in Italy taking the crown.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Raheem Sterling managed to score a no-look volley from a Harry Kane cross. That was Sterling's first goal at a World Cup following his performances at 2014 and 2018 for the Three Lions.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.