Match Report: England 2-1 DR Congo
- H. Kane (75′) (86′)
- J. Bellingham (19′)
- B. Cipenga (7′)
- N. Sadiki (28′)
The Three Lions seal spot in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after second-half comeback in Atlanta
England v DR Congo
Round of 32
FIFA World Cup 2026
Wednesday 1 July 2026, 5pm BST
Atlanta Stadium
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DR Congo in profile
Nickname: The Leopards
Coach: Sébastien Desabre
Captain: Chancel Mbemba
Match Stats
• This will be the first ever meeting between England and DR Congo, but England’s second game against an African opponent at this FIFA World Cup (also v Ghana). Only at the 1990 World Cup have they faced two African teams in the same edition before (1-0 v Egypt, 3-2 v Cameroon).
• England will face an African team in a FIFA World Cup knockout stage match for just the third time, following wins over Cameroon (3-2 in the 1990 quarter-final) and Senegal (3-0 in the 2022 round of 16).
• DR Congo will play their first ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage match here. It will be the 11th time an African team have played a World Cup knockout stage game against a former winner of the competition, while only one has managed to progress (Morocco on penalties v Spain in 2022, last 16).
• England are unbeaten in their 11 competitive fixtures under Thomas Tuchel (W10 D1). Only two managers have had a longer unbeaten start in competitive fixtures as the Three Lions boss (excl. penalty shootouts): Ron Greenwood (16 between 1977 and 1980) and Roy Hodgson (14 between 2012 and 2013).
• England ranked third for possession average (65.3%) in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Congo DR ranked 38th (38.5%).
• Harry Kane is now England’s all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup (11 goals). If he scores in this match, he will move level with Geoff Hurst (4) for knockout stage goals in the competition, with only Gary Lineker (6) netting more than four for the Three Lions.
• Yoane Wissa has scored 75% of DR Congo's goals at the FIFA World Cup 2026 (3/4), averaging a goal every 90 minutes in the tournament. This is as many as he netted in the 2025-26 club season for Newcastle United (3), where he averaged a goal every 301 minutes across all competitions.
• Elliot Anderson leads all England players for line-breaking passes (30), possession won (20) and duels won (24) at the FIFA World Cup 2026 . He was one of only two players with 20+ in each of those three categories in the group stage, along with Ecuador’s Pedro Vite.
• DR Congo winger Brian Cipenga completed six dribbles against Uzbekistan on MD3, on what was his FIFA World Cup debut. Only one player completed more in a group stage match in this tournament: Paraguay’s Julian Enciso v Türkiye (7).
England Squad News
Ticket Information
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How to watch or stream
England v DR Congo at the World Cup will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
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Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to his team as England take on DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
The Three Lions head coach brings Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Djed Spence back into his line-up, replacing Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka and the injured Jarell Quansah, who is deemed .
England: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Ezri Konsa, 3 Nico O'Reilly, 4 Declan Rice, 6 Marc Guéhi, 8 Elliot Anderson, 9 Harry Kane (c), 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Marcus Rashford, 20 Noni Madueke, 25 Djed Spence 26 Jarell Quansah
Substitutes: 5 John Stones, 7 Bukayo Saka, 12 Trevoh Chalobah, 13 Dean Henderson, 14 Jordan Henderson, 15 Dan Burn, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 17 Morgan Rogers, 18 Anthony Gordon, 19 Ollie Watkins, 21 Eberechi Eze, 22 Ivan Toney, 23 James Trafford, 24 Reece James, 26 Jarell Quansah
England trailed for much of the contest courtesy of Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute strike but Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to help the Three Lions come from behind in thrilling fashion.
The captain first headed home from close range to level things up, before lashing home a stunning goal from just inside the box four minutes from time to secure progression for Thomas Tuchel's side.
It sets up a last-16 tie with Mexico in Mexico City, which will kick-off at 1am BST on Monday 6 July.
DR Congo took the lead after just seven minutes, as Cipenga fired low past Jordan Pickford. A cross from deep by Chancel Mbemba found its way through to an unmarked Cipenga, and he made no mistake to put his side in front early on.
Rice then created another opportunity with a cross from deep, this time Jude Bellingham meeting it only to see his header well saved by Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.
The Three Lions continued to crank up the pressure as they looked for a way back into the contest, with Noni Madueke causing problems down the right wing and he created a chance for Marcus Rashford, whose shot was bravely blocked off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
DR Congo then came inches from doubling their lead just before half time, as Yoane Wissa hit the post from inside the six yard box after good work down the right.
Seconds later, Kane raced through on goal and went down under contact from Mpasi-Nzau but penalty claims were waved away.
England started the second half strongly and Rashford had the first real sight of goal six minutes after the restart, but his effort was wide of the near post after a fast counter.
Bellingham then saw a deflected cross acrobatically batted away by Mpasi-Nzau as England continued to knock on the door.
Nathanaël Mbuku tried his luck from range as DR Congo looked to double their lead, only for an important header from Elliot Anderson to prevent it from hitting the target.
The Three Lions finally found a way through with 15 minutes remaining, as Kane nodded home from inside the box.
The Three Lions pushed for a winner and almost found one through Bellingham, who raced in behind but was denied at a narrow angle by Mpasi-Nzau.
Just seconds later they were ahead, as Kane thundered a shot into the top corner from just inside the box with four minutes remaining.
DR Congo pushed hard for an equaliser, with Wissa sending a free kick narrowly over the bar with seconds remaining, but England saw out the match to continue their World Cup campaign.