England’s Morgan Rogers backed Harry Kane to come out on top when he faces Norway’s Erling Haaland in a tantalizing battle of the World Cup marksmen on Saturday.
The attackers, who meet in the quarter-finals in Miami, are among the frontrunners together with Lionel Messi and Frenchman Kylian Mbappé in an exciting race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Aston Villa striker Rogers admitted Manchester City’s Haaland, who has scored seven goals so far, was almost impossible to stop.
«Has anyone ever stopped Erling Haaland? I’m not sure if they have, but we’ll try,» the 23-year-old said at the Kansas City base camp in England on Wednesday.
“He’s such an incredible player. The things he does, the numbers he puts up, you’re just in awe of how good he is and the level he’s at.”
READ | Europe has a firm grip on the destination of the World Cup, while Messi’s Argentina is resisting
Haaland has scored in each of his past 14 league appearances for Norway – 27 goals in total – and will undoubtedly prove a handful for England’s shaky defense.
But Rogers is confident England captain Kane, one goal behind Haaland in the race to become the World Cup top scorer, would come out on top.
“They for me are the two who are at the top of their game in this tournament and have been two of the best players,” he said.
“It’s a spectacle, I think, for the fans and it’s going to be a good spectacle to see who comes out on top.
«I hope it’s Harry, and I’m sure it will be. I think we have that confidence in him. He’s probably playing at the highest level he’s ever played at, which is madness to say, because of what he’s been doing for so many years.»
No limit for Bellingham
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, 23, was England’s other outstanding player at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Rogers said there was no limit to the heights Bellingham could reach.
“You forget how young he is, that’s how good he’s been, but I still think there’s a long way to go and he’ll probably say the same thing, the drive and the hunger he has in the game for what he wants to achieve,” he said.
“He knows he has things to work on, things to improve, as we all do, and I think that’s what’s so exciting about being an England fan, an England player, and being his friend.
«I think it’s just how far he can go. No one really knows and there’s no limit to what he can really achieve.»
Rogers, who came on as a late substitute in England’s thrilling last-16 win against Mexico, admitted it was impossible not to start thinking ahead to the final as the tournament reached the closing stages.
“We’re all aligned, we’re all on the same page to attack every game in the best way possible,” he said.
“So I think it’s hard because we’re all human and we’re all excited as we should be, but at the same time we know we have a job to do and we’re still a long way from that.”
Published on July 9, 2026
