England recovered from an early setback to defeat DR Congo 2-1 and secure a place in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic second-half comeback led by Harry Kane.
The Three Lions trailed for much of the contest after Brian Sibinga gave DR Congo an early advantage at Atlanta Stadium in the United States. However, Kane struck twice in the closing stages to complete the turnaround and send England into the next phase of the tournament.
The victory ensures England will face Mexico in the round of 16 next Monday, with the match scheduled to take place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
DR Congo makes the brighter start
The African representatives made an impressive opening and stunned England with an early breakthrough.
Brian Sibinga put DR Congo ahead in the seventh minute after beating goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with a powerful effort that gave England an immediate challenge in the knockout tie.
The goal rewarded Congo’s energetic start and forced Thomas Tuchel’s side to spend much of the match chasing an equaliser.
England struggled to find a way through during the first half, allowing DR Congo to take a 1-0 advantage into the interval.
The Congolese side continued to frustrate England after the restart, preserving its lead for another 30 minutes and moving closer to what would have been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
Kane changes the course of the match
England’s breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute.
Harry Kane rose to meet an accurate cross from substitute Anthony Gordon and headed the ball beyond Congolese goalkeeper Mbassi Nzao to restore parity.
The equaliser transformed the momentum of the contest, with England increasing the pressure as the match entered its closing stages.
As extra time appeared increasingly likely, Kane produced the decisive moment four minutes from the end of normal time.
Receiving possession on the edge of the penalty area, the Bayern Munich striker created space for himself despite being surrounded by Congo defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that found the back of the net.
His second goal completed England’s comeback and secured passage to the last 16.
Statistics reflect England’s attacking dominance
Although DR Congo held the lead for much of the encounter, the match statistics highlighted England’s superiority in attack.
Thomas Tuchel’s team enjoyed 60% possession and produced 16 shots, with seven efforts on target.
England also created several clear scoring opportunities but failed to convert six of them before Kane’s late intervention.
By comparison, DR Congo generated fewer attacking opportunities but made the most of its first-half chance through Sibinga’s clinical finish.
Despite the defeat, the African side remained competitive throughout the match and kept England under pressure until the closing minutes.
England prepares for Mexico challenge
The comeback victory keeps England’s hopes of progressing further in the 2026 World Cup alive.
After overcoming a determined DR Congo side that threatened to cause a major upset, the Three Lions now turn their attention to another demanding knockout encounter.
Their next challenge comes against Mexico in the round of 16, with the fixture set to be played at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
England will take confidence from the resilience shown against DR Congo, while Harry Kane’s decisive contribution once again underlined his importance to Thomas Tuchel’s side as the tournament moves into its decisive stages.
