Twelve minutes into England’s 2026 World Cup campaign, the tournament delivered its first major talking point. Harry Kane stepped up to the penalty spot against Croatia, had his effort saved, then watched the referee point back to the spot for a retake.

The reason: Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic had moved off his goal line before Kane struck the ball. Kane buried the second attempt, putting England 1-0 up in their Group L opener.

What actually happened

The chain of events started when Luka Modric fouled Noni Madueke inside the Croatia penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot without much hesitation, and Kane placed the ball on the mark.

Livakovic dove and made what appeared to be a superb save. For a few seconds, Croatia celebrated. Then came the intervention that changed everything.

The match officials determined that Livakovic had advanced forward off his goal line before Kane made contact with the ball. Under FIFA’s penalty regulations, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal line at the moment the kick is taken. Livakovic didn’t meet that requirement.

So Kane got a do-over. And he made it count.

The rule behind the drama

Penalty retakes for goalkeeper encroachment have become far more common since FIFA tightened enforcement in recent years, particularly with the expanded use of VAR technology. The rule itself isn’t new. Goalkeepers have technically been required to stay on their line for decades. What changed is that officials now have the tools and the mandate to actually enforce it.

Livakovic made a genuine save on the first attempt. He read Kane’s direction correctly and got a strong hand to the ball. Under older, looser enforcement, that save stands and Croatia has a moment of genuine momentum. Instead, it became a footnote.

Kane and the penalty spot

Harry Kane’s relationship with penalty kicks has been one of the defining subplots of his international career. Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where penalties played a significant role in his goal tally.

The goal put England in control of the match. This match was part of the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, hosted across North America. The larger tournament means more group games, more permutations, and more moments where a single penalty decision can ripple through an entire group’s standings.