England's Fifa World Cup campaign opened in thoroughly convincing fashion as they outclassed Iran during an incident-packed match in Doha.
Gareth Southgate's side strolled to victory, with Iran's hopeless plight made worse by the early loss of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand to concussion after a clash of heads with team-mate Majid Hosseini.
Jude Bellingham got England off the mark in this World Cup with a soaring header from Luke Shaw's cross 10 minutes before the break and the game was wrapped up before half-time thanks to Bukayo Saka's fine strike and Raheem Sterling's classy volley with the outside of his foot from Harry Kane's cross.
Iran's supporters were given a moment of real delight when Mehdi Taremi scored a fine goal after 65 minutes but it only produced a ruthless response from England as Saka scored his second and substitute Marcus Rashford scored with his first involvement - both smooth, composed strikes.
To put the gloss on an incredibly dominant display, Jack Grealish slotted home from close range after a good run and pull back by Callum Wilson.
Iran did pull another back in injury time when Taremi slotted in a penalty after a John Stones foul.
The game was played out against the backdrop of more off-field controversy here in Qatar after England were forced to ditch plans to wear the OneLove armband promoting diversity and inclusivity under threat from Fifa of players being cautioned should they carry out the gesture of support.
Bellingham & Saka show class
It is almost impossible to deliver any firm judgement on England's World Cup prospects given the paucity of Iran's opposition but this could hardly have gone better for Southgate as his one major selection decision reaped a rich dividend and the result was almost perfect.
Iran were expected to provide stern resistance as they reside in the top 20 in the Fifa rankings and have a recent victory against Uruguay on their record but England made light work of the task once Bellingham gave them the lead.
Bellingham is being touted as one of the big emerging names at this World Cup, the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star already a target for a host of the game's elite names.
And, even in the context of this game, Bellingham showed exactly why as he joined Saka as the dominant force in this game, scoring his first England goal with a magnificent header and bestriding midfield with a complete authority that belied his years.
This was only the second time England have scored six goals in a major tournament but on this evidence you would not bet against the brilliant Bellingham being involved the next time it happens.
Bellingham is a player with the world at his feet and a long career ahead of him at international level.
Southgate picked Saka ahead of Manchester City's Phil Foden, the only mildly contentious decision in his line-up, but there can be no arguments after a hugely impressive performance from the 21-year-old who has played such a big part as Arsenal head the Premier League.
Saka scored twice and was a threat throughout and thoroughly deserved the warm applause he received when he was substituted.
It will get harder for England as they now face the United States and Wales but this was the perfect start.
Iran outclassed but send message
Iran suffered the early setback of losing goalkeeper Beiranvand to suspected concussion but this was never going to change the course of the game give the chasm in class between the two teams.
Iran coach Carlos Quieroz hinted at a bold approach beforehand but this was never going to be the case and once the game settled down following an opening 20 minutes littered with interruptions, this opening World Cup game was only going one way.
Iran's many fans had a moment of real joy when Taremi thumped home his finish but there was little else to celebrate in this game as their team took a heavy beating.
This was not a day without great significance, however, as both Iran's players and supporters used this global stage to make their feelings clear about the growing human rights protests against the ruling regime in their homeland.
The national anthem was shouted down by the supporters and none of the Iran players joined in.
Iran were heavily supported inside the Khalifa International Stadium and clearly regarded this as an ideal platform to make their grievances clear. The football itself gave them nothing to cheer but they were clearly determined to make this day count.
Player of the match
SakaBukayo Saka
Line-ups
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Pickford
12Trippier5Stones6Maguire3Shaw
22Bellingham4Rice
17Saka19Mount10Sterling
9Kane
1Pickford12Trippier5Stones6MaguireSubstituted forDierat 70'minutes3Shaw22Bellingham4Rice17SakaSubstituted forRashfordat 71'minutes19MountSubstituted forFodenat 71'minutes10SterlingSubstituted forGrealishat 71'minutes9KaneSubstituted forWilsonat 76'minutesSubstitutes
2Walker7Grealish8Henderson11Rashford13Pope14Phillips15Dier16Coady18Alexander-Arnold20Foden21White23Ramsdale24Wilson26GallagherIran
Formation 5-4-1
1Beyranvand
2Moharrami8Pouraliganji15Cheshmi19Hosseini5Mohammadi
7Jahanbakhsh21Noorollahi18Karimi3Hajisafi
9Taremi
1BeyranvandSubstituted forHosseiniat 19'minutes2Moharrami8PouraliganjiBooked at 48mins15CheshmiSubstituted forKananiat 45'minutes19Hosseini5MohammadiSubstituted forTorabiat 63'minutes7JahanbakhshBooked at 25minsSubstituted forGholizadehat 45'minutes21NoorollahiSubstituted forAzmounat 77'minutes18KarimiSubstituted forEzatolahiat 45'minutes3Hajisafi9TaremiSubstitutes
4Khalilzadeh6Ezatolahi10Ansarifard11Amiri12Niazmand13Kanani14Ghoddos16Torabi17Gholizadeh20Azmoun22Abedzadeh23Rezaeian24Hosseini25JalaliReferee:Raphael ClausAttendance:45,334Live Text
Match ends, England 6, IR Iran 2.
Second Half ends, England 6, IR Iran 2.
Goal! England 6, IR Iran 2. Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
VAR Decision: Penalty IR Iran.
Penalty conceded by John Stones (England) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty IR Iran. Morteza Pouraliganji draws a foul in the penalty area.
Foul by Phil Foden (England).
Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Sardar Azmoun (IR Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mehdi Torabi with a through ball.
Foul by Marcus Rashford (England).
Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Morteza Pouraliganji (IR Iran).
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (IR Iran).
Goal! England 6, IR Iran 1. Jack Grealish (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Wilson.
Offside, IR Iran. Hossein Hosseini tries a through ball, but Sardar Azmoun is caught offside.
Offside, IR Iran. Hossein Hosseini tries a through ball, but Ali Gholizadeh is caught offside.
Foul by John Stones (England).
Hossein Kanani (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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