England made a dream start to their World Cup with a thumping victory over Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring before a Bukayo Saka brace plus goals from Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish earned Gareth Southgate’s dominant side the three points.
England had an early appeal for a penalty when Harry Maguire appeared to be hauled down in the box at a corner, but neither the referee nor VAR were interested.
The match was then stopped for several minutes while Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand received treatment after taking a blow to the face from his own player.
After then trying to resume play, Beiranvand eventually signalled to the bench for a substitution, and Hossein Hosseini came on to replace him.
The first real chance of the match fell to Mason Mount in the 30th minute but after receiving Bukayo Saka’s cut-back in the box, the England midfielder could only lash his shot into the side netting.
Maguire then went close to opening the scoring in the 32nd minute when he got a strong head to a corner, but his effort rattled the crossbar.
The opening goal did come a couple of minutes later, when Jude Bellingham guided Luke Shaw’s cross past the goalkeeper with a looping header.
England’s day then got even better when Saka made it 2-0 with a sweet strike into the top corner from Maguire’s knock-down.
Before Raheem Sterling got in on the act to make it 3-0 in first half stoppage time when he volleyed home at the near post from Harry Kane’s cross.
Into the second half and England went 4-0 up just after the hour mark courtesy of Saka’s second of the game. Sterling fed the winger out on the right flank and after cutting in onto his left foot, he guided an effort into the bottom corner with the aid of a slight deflection.
Iran then pulled one back, when a ball into the box found Mehdi Taremi and the striker lashed in first time off the crossbar.
But England soon re-established their four-goal advantage when substitute Marcus Rashford finished well under the goalkeeper after being played in by Kane.
And it was another couple of substitutes who combined to make it 6-1 in the 90th minute, with Jack Grealish tapping home from close range after some nice work from Callum Wilson.
Iran then had a chance to reduce the deficit when Sardar Azmoun found himself in on goal in stoppage time, but his strike hit the crossbar and bounced to safety.
But Carlos Queiroz’s side were awarded a very late penalty after a VAR review for a John Stones shirt tug on Saeed Ezatolahi. Taremi stepped up and sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way for 6-2.
Next up for England is an encounter with the United States on Friday, while Iran face Wales earlier the same day.