England advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 win over DR Congo on July 1 in Atlanta. The Three Lions came from behind after an early goal by the African side. Harry Kane scored both of England's goals in the second half to secure the result.
DR Congo took the lead in the seventh minute. Brian Cipenga scored after a move that caught England out of position. The goal came from a cross or quick attack that left the England defense exposed. Jordan Pickford could not stop the shot. This early strike put pressure on England, who had been expected to control the game.
England held most of the possession in the first half but struggled to create clear chances. Jude Bellingham and other midfielders tried to break down DR Congo's organized defense. The Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made several saves, including one on a header from Bellingham. England had more shots but could not equalize before halftime. The score stayed 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, England made changes that helped turn the game around. Anthony Gordon came off the bench and provided key passes. Harry Kane scored the equalizer in the 75th minute with a header from a Gordon cross. This goal leveled the score at 1-1 and gave England momentum.
Kane added the winning goal in the 86th minute. He turned and fired a shot past the goalkeeper after another assist from Gordon. The finish was clinical and came at a crucial time. DR Congo pushed forward late but could not find another goal. England held on through stoppage time to win 2-1.
Match Stats
Possession: England 60%, DR Congo 40%
Shots: England 16, DR Congo 7
Shots on target: England 7, DR Congo 2
Corners: England 5, DR Congo 3
Fouls: England 10, DR Congo 12
England created more big chances and controlled the flow after the early setback. Their expected goals were higher than DR Congo's.
Player Highlights
Harry Kane was the standout player. He scored twice in the final 15 minutes and showed leadership as captain. His first goal was a strong header, and the second was a composed finish inside the box. Kane now has multiple goals in the tournament.
Anthony Gordon made a big impact as a substitute. He delivered the assists for both of Kane's goals and helped stretch the DR Congo defense. His energy and passing changed the game.
Jude Bellingham was active in midfield and created opportunities, though some chances were saved. Declan Rice and other defenders helped stabilize the team after the early goal.
For DR Congo, Brian Cipenga scored the opening goal and showed threat on the counter. The goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had a strong game with key saves. The team played with discipline and nearly held on for a famous result. Joan Wissa and other attackers tried to create late pressure.
England topped their group and now face Mexico in the Round of 16. DR Congo exits the tournament after reaching the knockout stage for the first time as one of the best third-place teams. The match showed England's ability to recover from a poor start through persistence and late quality.