Jude Bellingham, immediately after half-time, and substitute Marcus Rashford with five minutes to go ensured a winning start for Thomas Tuchel’s side after Croatia had fought back to level at 2-2.
The prolific Kane twice put England ahead in the first half – one a retaken penalty – only for Martin Baturina and Petar Musa to hit back for 2018 runners-up Croatia.
With both sides shaky at the back, the second half threatened another goal glut, Bellingham needing just two minutes to put England ahead again in front of a crowd of 70,000.
England had numerous chances to extend their lead immediately after, but did not take them until Rashford popped up.
“I thought the game was two halves really,” the skipper Kane told ITV.
“I thought first half we were okay. Really disappointed to concede in the way we did, the way we dropped off.
“And credit to the manager. The manager gave us a speech at half-time just to say, look, if we lose, we’re losing our way.
“And I think you saw that, the way we come out in the second half, we went full gas, and they couldn’t live with it.”
The meeting was a repeat of the 2018 semi-final, which Croatia won after extra-time, although England have since had the edge against one of the older squads in North America.
Tuchel’s side, bidding to deliver England a first major trophy since 1966, made a nervy start in front of a packed house at the impressive air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Then the drama came. Croatia’s talismanic captain Luka Modric dangled out a leg and caught Noni Madueke in the box.
Kane saw his unconvincing penalty saved by Dominik Livakovic, only for French referee Clement Turpin to order a retake after video replays deemed the stopper had come off his line.
Turpin once sent off Tuchel in the Champions League and the referee taking charge of the game had been highlighted by English media this week. (AFP)