England fought back from an early deficit to defeat DR Congo 2-1 and book their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to end the African side’s dream run.
DR Congo threatened to produce one of the biggest upsets of the tournament after taking the lead inside seven minutes and frustrating England for much of the match. However, Kane’s clinical finishing and the impact of England’s substitutes turned the contest around to send Thomas Tuchel’s men into the next round.
The Leopards made a dream start when Brian Cipenga capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire past Jordan Pickford in the seventh minute, silencing the England supporters inside Atlanta Stadium. DR Congo defended with great discipline after the breakthrough, while goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced a series of important saves to deny England an equaliser before halftime.
England dominated possession throughout the second half but struggled to break down the resilient Congolese defence. Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke all searched for an opening, but DR Congo continued to frustrate the Three Lions with organised defending and dangerous counterattacks.
The momentum changed after Anthony Gordon came off the bench. The Newcastle United winger immediately added pace and creativity to England’s attack, and his delivery in the 75th minute found Harry Kane, who powered a header into the net to level the scores at 1-1.
With extra time looming, England’s captain produced the decisive moment in the 86th minute. Kane collected the ball outside the penalty area, turned brilliantly and unleashed a powerful strike that beat Mpasi to complete the comeback and spark jubilant celebrations among the England players and supporters. The brace took Kane to 13 FIFA World Cup goals, moving him ahead of Brazilian legend Pele on the competition’s all-time scoring list.
Despite the defeat, DR Congo earned widespread praise for a courageous display against one of the tournament favourites. The Leopards looked capable of causing a major shock for long periods, but England’s experience and attacking quality ultimately proved decisive in the closing stages.
The victory sends England into the Round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico. For Tuchel’s side, the performance highlighted both their fighting spirit and the need for improvement, while DR Congo leave the tournament with their heads held high after an impressive World Cup campaign that captured the admiration of football fans around the world.
