The Young Lions started the defence of their Toulon title, a year to the day from winning it, by beating Angola by a solitary goal.
A goal from Ike Ugbo at the start of the second half was enough to lift England to the top of Group A after Japan and Cuba drew their earlier match 1-1.
Neil Dewsnip chose to give three players their England debuts by starting Joe Worrall, Ronaldo Vieira and Daniel Kemp, all of whom played an influential part in the game.
Captain Worrall had England's first chance after a good period of possession, but his headed effort from a corner fell just wide.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Chelsea’s Reece James put another fizzing cross in from the right which, after a defensive mix-up, fell fortunately into the grateful hands of keeper Joao Bunga Eduardo.
Huddersfield Town’s Ryan Schofield pulled off a great save at the start of the second half in Aubgane to prevent Angola taking the lead. This would prove pivotal as five minutes later England went ahead through Ugbo. The prolific 18 year-old cushioned his header into the centre of the goal after an inch-perfect cross from the right-wing.
On 68 minutes another Chelsea player was denied a worthy goal when James’s header was tipped over the crossbar.
England: 1 Ryan Schofield (Huddersfield Town), 5 Joseph Worrall (capt, Nottingham Forest), 3 Josh Grant (Chelsea), 4 Joshua Tymon (Hull City), 2 Reece James (Chelsea); 12 Tariq Uwakwe (Chelsea), 11 Ronaldo Vieira (Leeds United), 9 Demetri Mitchell (Manchester United); 15 Daniel Kemp (West Ham United), 14 Elliot Embleton (Sunderland), 20 Ike Ugbo (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 18 David Brooks (Sheffield United) for Ukwakwe 58, 8 Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) for Kemp 58, 17 George Hirst (Sheffield Wednesday) for Ugbo 75
Substitutes not used: 6 Elliott Moore (Leicester City), 7 Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Callum Slattery (Southampton), 13 Ellery Balcombe (Brentford), 16 Luke Bolton (Manchester City), 19 Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Chelsea)
Head Coach: Neil Dewsnip
Goal: Ugbo 45
