Round of 32
England 2-1 DR Congo
England were losing 1-0 to DR Congo, but 2 late Harry Kane goals won it 2-1 and sent them to the round of 16.
How the match went
This was a huge scare for England, because for most of the game DR Congo were the better team.
DR Congo shocked everyone early, when their forward Brian Cipenga scored in the 7th minute to make it 1-0.
England could not find a way through, and DR Congo were still winning 0-1 at half-time.
England kept trying but could not create good chances, and the goal just would not come.
Then their captain Harry Kane took over, and he scored with a header in the 75th minute to make it 1-1.
The game was tied 1-1, and now England had all the pressure and belief on their side.
Kane did it again in the 86th minute, scoring to make it 2-1 and win it for England.
Those were his 12th and 13th World Cup goals, and both came right when England needed them most.
The truth is England were poor here and got a big scare from a team no one expected to give them a hard game.
They won because of Harry Kane, not because they played well, and they will need to be much better next time.
DR Congo can be proud, because they led one of the favorites for most of the game and nearly won.
Key moments
- ⚽ 7' Cipenga (DR Congo)
- ⚽ 75' Kane (England)
- ⚽ 86' Kane (England)
Goals in the order they were scored.
- Date
- Wednesday, July 1
- Kickoff Time
- 12:00 (New York time)
- Stage
- Round of 32
What's next for England?
England are through to the round of 16, but they were lucky to get there.
Next they play Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on July 5, 2026, after they beat Ecuador 2-0.
That is a tough away game in front of a huge home crowd, so this will be a big test.
England were poor here and were lucky to still win, and they will have to play far better to beat Mexico.
The end of the road for DR Congo
DR Congo are out of the World Cup, but they can be very proud of this run.
This was their first World Cup since 1974, and reaching the round of 32 was already the best result in their history.
On top of that, they led England for most of the game and made one of the favorites work very hard.
They go home as the surprise team that scared England, and that is a story their fans will remember.
Common questions
Where and when was England vs DR Congo played?
The game was played on July 1, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It was a round of 32 knockout match at the 2026 World Cup.
What was the final score of England vs DR Congo?
England won 2-1. DR Congo were winning 0-1 at half-time, but Harry Kane scored twice late on to win it 2-1 for England.
Who scored for England against DR Congo?
Harry Kane scored both England goals. He scored with a header in the 75th minute to make it 1-1, then scored again in the 86th minute to make it 2-1.
Did England play well against DR Congo?
No, England did not play well and got a big scare. DR Congo were the better team for most of the game and led 1-0. England only won because of 2 late Harry Kane goals, and they will need to improve a lot.