Co-favorite England defied the hype about the symbolic colorful captain's armband and set the first sporting exclamation point in Qatar with the highest opening World Cup victory in their history.

The team around goalscorer Jude Bellingham, where captain Harry Kane did not have the "One Love" armband for diversity on his arm after announced sanctions from FIFA, won 6-2 (3-0) in Al-Rajjan on Monday the overwhelmed outsider Iran and thus impressively demonstrated his ambitions for the title.

In front of 45,334 spectators, some of whom were late to the stadium due to problems with the ticketing app, Bellingham (35th minute) scored the opening goal for head coach Gareth Southgate's team.

Wingers Bukayo Saka (43'/62'), Raheem Sterling (45'+1'), Marcus Rashford (71') and Jack Grealish (90') scored more goals.

For England it was the first win since March, in the summer there was not a single success in six Nations League games.

More than two goals by Mehdi Taremi (65th / 90th + 13 / penalty) were not possible for Iran.

Even before kick-off at the Chalifa International Stadium, which also hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2019, the game was strongly political and symbolic.

England captain Kane did not wear the armband because FIFA threatened to sanction the campaign by several European associations with yellow cards and other penalties as a sign of diversity.

A week ago, the FA association announced that it would also accept penalties for the diversity sign.

Now those responsible emphasized that they did not want to get the players on the pitch in trouble.

Iranian TV suspends broadcast during anthem

The signs of the outsider from Asia were all the more visible - but in a completely different matter.

Some Iranian fans showed their solidarity with the protests at home by wearing shirts that read "Women, Life, Freedom".

For weeks, Iran has been rocked by the worst protests in decades.

The death of a young woman in police custody had triggered this, and the security apparatus reacted with harshness.

The Iranian players were silent during the anthem, the fans made additional noise - this is also understood as a protest.

The Iranian state broadcaster interrupted the live broadcast during the anthem.

The players could now face consequences.

There had been speculation in Iran that they might be banned if they remained silent at the anthem.

Iranian captain Ehsan Hajsafi on Sunday expressed his condolences to the grieving families of the victims in Iran.

The team has to accept that the conditions in the country are not good and the people are not happy.

The players are aware of that.

Striker Taremi had declared before the tournament that the team in Qatar did not want to be influenced by the protests at home.

"We also have other responsibilities to Iranian society, but here our focus is on football," he said.

Bellingham made a tailor-made World Cup debut

The sport and thus the first appearance of the European Championship runners-up England moved to the edge of attention for long stretches.

This was also the case after about ten minutes when Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand was down after a violent collision with a team-mate and had to be treated.

The doctors swapped the blood-smeared jersey and tried to get Beiranvand fit to play again, but that didn't work.

After an interruption of about ten minutes, the goalkeeper then left the field.

In England's coherent offensive actions, defender Harry Maguire was surprisingly often involved.

First he was brought down in the penalty area without consequences, then he hit the side netting and headed the bar one after the other.

Bellingham then provided relief, who placed a well-placed cross from Luke Shaw and deliberately headed into the far post.

It was a tailor-made World Cup debut for the BVB professional, he scored his first international goal ever and at the age of 19 is now England's second youngest World Cup goalscorer behind Michael Owen.

The wingers Saka and Sterling in particular made a good pace for the Southgate team and had numerous strong actions.

So the other goals in the first half, in which there was a bizarre stoppage time of 14 minutes, were only logical.

For the second goal, Maguire put his head and eye on Saka, who finished precisely and powerfully.

Just two minutes later, Sterling, who was properly served by Captain Kane, followed up.

The game was decided at halftime, in the second 45 minutes it was all about the amount of the English opening success.

Saka was served well again, moved in from the right and pushed in to make it 4-0.

Then the outsider was allowed to cheer.

FC Porto's top striker Taremi scored the second before Rashford, who had just come on as a substitute, made his first move for the English side.

At this point, defender Maguire had already been replaced injured.

Joker Grealish also scored, and Taremi's penalty made it 2-6.