EnglandvsCongo DR

Result

England flirted with the shock of the tournament before Harry Kane dragged them past DR Congo 2-1 under the Atlanta roof. Brian Cipenga silenced the favourites in the seventh minute, cutting in off the left from Chancel Mbemba's switch of play and beating Jordan Pickford at his near post — the Leopards' first-ever knockout goal. England huffed for over an hour (and were denied a first-half penalty when Kane went down under a challenge the referee and VAR let go), until Anthony Gordon changed the game off the bench: his floated cross found Kane's glancing header in the 75th, and four minutes from time he laid the ball off for the captain to rifle high into the top corner from the edge of the box. Kane's 12th and 13th World Cup goals send England into a last-16 tie; DR Congo leave with their heads high after a first knockout appearance. England advance to the round of 16.

England 4-2-3-14-3-3 Congo DR

England

Congo DR

Harry Kane75'

Brian Cipenga7'

Harry Kane86'

Jude Bellingham19'

Noah Sadiki28'

60%Possession40%

16Shots7

7On target2

1Saves5

5Corners3

468Passes completed299

91%Pass accuracy82%

11Tackles20

40Touches in box11

Substitutions

Bukayo Sakafor Noni Maduekeat 61'

Meschack Eliafor Nathanaël Mbukuat 64'

Anthony Gordonfor Marcus Rashfordat 61'

Théo Bongondafor Brian Cipengaat 76'

Eberechi Ezefor Djed Spenceat 70'

Edo Kayembefor Ngal'ayel Mukauat 76'

John Stonesfor Declan Riceat 90'+1'

Joris Kayembefor Arthur Masuakuat 89'

Fiston Mayelefor Samuel Moutoussamyat 89'

At this Stage

A first-ever meeting between the nations, and for an hour it threatened to be the shock of the tournament. DR Congo — in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, through as the best of the third-placed teams — led England from the seventh minute through Brian Cipenga, the Leopards' first-ever knockout goal. England, Group L winners, found the answer where they usually do: Harry Kane, already their all-time leading World Cup scorer, struck twice late for 2-1, and Thomas Tuchel's unbeaten competitive record survived. The Leopards exit with heads high and a famous scare inflicted; England advance to face Mexico in Mexico City on July 6 — warned, but through, which at this stage is all that counts.

Mexico✓2

Ecuador0

Jun 30 · FT

Mexico City Stadium

England✓2

Congo DR1

Jul 1 · FT

Atlanta Stadium

Mexico2

England✓3

Jul 5 · FT

Mexico City Stadium

Round of 32

Mexico✓2

Ecuador0

Jun 30 · FT

Mexico City Stadium

England✓2

Congo DR1

Jul 1 · FT

Atlanta Stadium

Round of 16

Mexico2

England✓3

Jul 5 · FT

Mexico City Stadium

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

England to win and reach the last 16. Thomas Tuchel's side topped Group L and remain unbeaten across his competitive reign, with Harry Kane — now England's all-time leading World Cup scorer — and Jude Bellingham in form. DR Congo reached the knockouts for the first time as the best of the third-placed sides and will likely sit deep in a back five, springing Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu on the break. The Leopards are organised and have nothing to lose, but England's quality and depth should be decisive. 2-0 England.

Both cases written 2026-06-30, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 14% belongs to the draw.