World Cup star power comes to Dallas, and Messi isn’t even here yet

ARLINGTON — Harry Kane wasn’t born until 1993, so he certainly shouldn’t have to shoulder the full weight of England’s 59-year, 10-month, 18-day World Cup drought.

But as the Three Lions’ electrifying striker and captain of eight years, Kane bears the inordinate brunt, not that it showed in his or England’s performance in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Croatia, the 2026 World Cup opener for both teams in Dallas Stadium. 

With North Texas sports icons Dirk Nowitzki and Emmitt Smith among the sellout crowd of 70,389, 32-year-old Kane augmented the rollicking afternoon’s superstar flavor with English accent, scoring his team’s first two goals. 

So far, in two of the World Cup-high nine matches it will host, fans in Dallas Stadium have seen 10 goals scored — all in the last three halves.

RELATED: Despite FIFA’s best efforts, the World Cup at ‘Dallas Stadium’ is off to a crackin’ start

“Part of every major tournament is for the fans to be excited, to enjoy the summer,” Kane said. “I remember being young, singing the songs, watching the games and believing it was our time to win a World Cup.” 

England’s time, though, has come only once in 23 World Cups. This Group L stage opener was merely the first step for the world No. 4-ranked Brits, but the fact that it came against No. 11 Croatia is meaningful.

It was Croatia’s Vatreni “The Fiery Ones” who defeated England and Kane in the 2018 semifinals, which was the Three Lions’ deepest World Cup run since they made the 1990 semis, losing to West Germany on penalty kicks. 

Individually, Kane’s two goals pushed his career World Cup total to 10. In his 115th international cap, tying David Beckham for third-most in England history, Kane added to his men’s national team record goal total, now with 81. 

And Wednesday’s came 17 hours after Argentina legend Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria; and a day after France’s Kylian Mbappe opened with two goals against Senegal; and Norway’s Erling Haaland scored two against Iraq. 

“Yeah, obviously I saw the guys scoring their goals yesterday, and I don’t like to concentrate too much on other people,” Kane said. “But I think it’s natural as a sportsman, as an athlete, to try and reach the highest levels. 

“I think in the back of my mind, that competition helps me to push my levels. That’s what the World Cup is for, for the best players to perform at the highest level.”

How fortunate are soccer fans in North Texas? Guess who will be in Dallas Stadium next Monday? It’ll be Messi and world No. 1 Argentina, facing Austria. 

It’s hard to fathom a more electric start to this World Cup for North Texas — and this is still weeks before the June 30 and July 3 knockout-stage games and the July 14 semifinal. It turns out Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 tie here between the Netherlands and Japan was a mere teaser.  

And so far, Dallas Stadium — aka AT&T Stadium the rest of the year — is earning rave reviews as a host venue. 

“It’s much different from English stadiums,” England midfielder Morgan Rogers said. “The big screen is big. It’s really nice to look at, to watch replays and stuff. 

“Yeah, I really enjoyed the stage. It also was quite cool, which was good for us. I think it wasn’t as hot as other stadiums are going to be.” 

Dan Hunt, the North Texas World Cup organizing committee’s co-chairman, and someone who has attended every World Cup since 1986, said he heard nothing but positive reviews from fans and FIFA officials after the Netherlands-Japan opener.

“They were in awe,” he said. “That’s maybe one of the most fun things. Because you don’t know how international fans are going to take it. 

“They’re either going to say it was a great experience, a bad experience, it’s not a soccer venue. That felt like a soccer venue. Jerry Jones and his family and his whole staff have done such a great job with it. And we got a game that was worthy of the venue.” 

Make it two games. And most likely a third on Monday, if nothing else with the mere presence of superstar Messi. 

The potential success of this first World Cup in the United States since 1994 certainly wasn’t hurt by the United States team’s opening 4-1 win over Paraguay last Friday in Los Angeles. 

That game was attended by Dan Hunt and his family, but also that of brother Clark Hunt, the Chiefs’ CEO and co-chairman of Kansas City’s organizing efforts. Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium was where Messi produced Tuesday’s hat trick. 

Dan Hunt, though, was also buzzing about the American team’s opener. Team USA’s next game is on Friday against Australia in Seattle. 

“I know we’re a soccer nation on the women’s side,” Dan Hunt said. “Last Friday was the moment with the U.S. men’s national team that I knew we were a men’s soccer nation.” 

Who knows what kind of star power, blue blood soccer nations and individual stars, Arlington might see in this World Cup’s latest stages? 

Kane certainly made an early mark here, scoring on a 12th-minute penalty kick — actually a retaken kick after Croatia goaltender Dominik Livakovic left his position too soon to block Kane’s first attempt. 

In the 42nd minute, Kane connected on a header to give England a 2-1 lead. Croatia’s Petar Musa, who stars for the MLS’s FC Dallas just 31 miles away in Frisco, tied the score just before halftime. But just two minutes into the second half, Jude Bellingham gave England the lead for good.  

Could this be England’s year, finally? 

“We probably could have scored three goals in that 20-minute spell coming out [after halftime],” Kane said. “And in the end, a convincing win. … We just had too much for a great team, and we’ll probably go far in the tournament.”

And they’ll be led by the electric Kane, who for Bayern Munich this season scored 61 goals in 51 games. 

“Physically, mentally, and the goals I’ve gotten this year is at the highest level I’ve ever had in my career,” he said. “I feel like I’m at the peak of my powers at the right time.  

“Of course, there’s a long way to go, a lot of tough games ahead, but for me, personally, I enjoy being on the pitch when I’m feeling in this form.”