Thomas Tuchel finally gave Marcus Rashford his first start of the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, and the United forward had exactly the kind of game you’d expect from a guy who hasn’t played meaningful minutes in weeks. By the end of England’s 1-0 win over Panama, Rashford had lost the ball 20 times — the most of any player on the field.
The guy was pressing, running, trying things. And most of it didn’t work.
England had already clinched a spot in the knockout round before this one, so Tuchel made five changes to the lineup that drew 0-0 with Ghana. Rashford came in alongside Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka. The first half was a slog — Panama came to play, and England couldn’t find any rhythm. It was 0-0 at halftime.
Then Jude Bellingham happened. He scored off a corner in the 62nd minute, and Harry Kane made it 2-0 five minutes later with Bellingham setting him up. That was basically it. Panama had a goal called back for offside, but England took the win and finished top of Group L.
Rashford’s stat line tells the story
He played all 90 minutes. He had 63 touches, completed 81 percent of his passes, and put one shot on target out of five attempts. He tried six crosses — none found a teammate. He attempted six dribbles and beat his man twice. One tackle. One key pass. But he lost possession 20 times. That’s ugly for any attacker, especially one trying to prove he deserves a regular starting spot.
Rashford scored in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia earlier in the tournament, but that came off the bench. He’s mostly been an afterthought in Tuchel’s setup, even after a strong loan season at Barcelona where he put up 14 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. The 28-year-old clearly has the talent. The question is whether this England system — and this manager — trusts him to execute it consistently over 90 minutes.
What this means for his club future
Manchester United’s front office is watching this closely. According to sources close to the club, a strong World Cup would boost Rashford’s transfer value, which could help United move him this summer. The Old Trafford brass has been open to cashing in on the forward, given his contract situation and the financial realities of the Premier League. But a performance like this one doesn’t exactly drive up the asking price.
Rashford will get another shot when England faces Congo in the Round of 32 next week. But don’t be surprised if he’s back on the bench. Tuchel made his patience clear in the buildup to the Panama match, explaining why Rashford had been a substitute so far despite his Barcelona numbers. That patience probably didn’t get any thinner after Saturday.
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