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England have taken an early lead over Iran in their first World Cup game, with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling scoring three quick goals.
The Three Lions are looking to end 56 years of pain after a bitter disappointment last summer that saw them lose to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
And Bellingham got Southgate’s side off to a perfect start, in a must-win game with tougher games against Wales and the USA to follow.
Jude Bellingham gave England the perfect start as he headed his side into an early lead against Iran
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (left) added a second soon after to give England a 2-0 lead over their Group B rivals
Raheem Sterling then knocked in a superb cross from Harry Kane to give England a 3-0 lead
The goal came for England, who were left furious after an early penalty was denied for a seemingly obvious foul on Harry Maguire.
And it was Maguire again who wreaked havoc in the penalty area, his header bouncing off the crossbar of the Iranian goal.
In the end it was Bellingham who gave England the 1-0 lead, converting Luke Shaw’s stunning cross into the top corner with a brilliant header.
Bellingham, who, at 19 years and 145 days old, is England’s third-youngest player to ever start a World Cup match, opened his account for the Three Lions with the goal.
England were not done there, however, with Arsenal star Saka – who beat the on-form Phil Foden into the starting line-up – reeling in a left-footed strike after Shaw’s corner was badly cleared.
With goals from 19-year-old Bellingham and 21-year-old Saka, England have scored two players aged 21 or under in one World Cup match for the first time.
Just over a minute later, England had a third-place finish, with England captain and talisman Harry Kane, who is just two goals behind Wayne Rooney in the all-time top scorers list, becoming the supplier.
The Tottenham star delivered a textbook cross, which Son Heung-min usually enjoys, with Sterling rounding off a fine move with an impromptu volley.
England’s swift spate of goals came after an early delay, following a brutal head clash between goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and defender Majid Hosseini.
In the eighth minute of the game, the two Iranian players came to blows trying to defend a Harry Kane cross, and lengthy checks resulted in a 10-minute delay.
Oddly, both players continued, before Beiranvand collapsed again and had to be substituted in the 18th minute. Play resumed for about 30 seconds before he had to break free.
Beiranvand came running out of his goal to try and claim the cross, but couldn’t get close to the ball and eventually clattered into Hosseini, who also ran towards goal.
Both players had eyes for the ball, which resulted in the collision, delay and eventual substitution.
He was carried away with hands on his head and replaced by substitute keeper Hossein Hosseini.
Iranian players Alireza Beiranvand and Majid Hosseini fell out with England early on
Both players had an eye for the ball, but collided after just eight minutes into the game
Goalkeeper Beiranvand lay on the ground for a long time and collapsed 30 seconds after play resumed
Southgate has often been criticized for his defensive selections, but opted for an attacking line-up in a 4-3-3 formation for the clash.
Pickford was named as England’s starting goalkeeper, as expected, and Southgate kept faith in Maguire despite his struggles for Manchester United this season.
Maguire was named alongside John Stones in central defence, with Kieran Trippier and Shaw at fullbacks.
Bellingham was widely expected to team up with West Ham star Declan Rice in the center of the park, which turned out to be the case, with Mason Mount providing a creative outlet in midfield three.
And the selections clearly worked for England, with Southgate leading 3-0 at half-time in a dream start to their campaign.