England produced a late comeback as they fought back from an early goal down to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup round of 32 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel's side were staring at a shock exit after Brian Cipenga opened the scoring in the seventh minute and the Leopards held out for 75 minutes.
But Harry Kane stepped up with a second-half brace in the closing stages to set up a meeting with co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16.
The Three Lions come from behind to advance to the #FIFAWorldCup2026 Round of 16! 😲🏴#DStvFIFAWorldCup2026 | #EverythingCanWait pic.twitter.com/u3OAy8BDjQ
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2026
The Three Lions were still unbeaten going into the last-32 clash, having won Group L by one point ahead of Croatia after beating Panama 2-0 on June 27.
Sebastien Desabre's side meanwhile finished as the best-ranked third-placed team on four points as they picked up their first win on June 28 with a 3-1 success against Uzbekistan.
The underdogs got off to the perfect start when Cipenga collected the ball in acres of space on the left and cut inside before unleashing a shot that went under the out-stretched arm of Jordan Pickford at his near post on seven minutes.
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 is how you start your first #FIFAWorldCup knockout match 🤩🇨🇩
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2026
Brian Cipenga gives Congo DR a fast start in Atlanta ⚽💥
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England had to wait until the half-hour mark for their first real chance as Jude Bellingham got on the end of Declan Rice's cross to force Lionel Mpasi into a fine save with his header.
However, matters almost got worse for the favourites three minutes before halftime when Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross from the right took a deflection off Nico O'Reilly and fell nicely for Yoane Wissa, who hit the right post from a few yards out.
Bellingham was presented with another opportunity in the second minute of added time after making contact with Noni Madueke's cross, but Mpasi produced a smart save to parry away his header.
Kane should have equalised on the stroke of halftime after finding himself free at the back post from a corner, only to see his volley expertly saved by Mpasi.
The 1966 world champions made a bright start to the second half, with Marcus Rashford cutting through the defence towards goal before firing into the side-netting from an angle on 51 minutes after initially feinting to shoot.
Mpasi somehow managed to keep the ball out once more two minutes later after Bellingham's cross from the left took a wicked deflection and had the goalkeeper moving the wrong way.
Nathanael Mbuku came close to extending DR Congo's lead from a short corner on 64 minutes, but his shot was diverted just over the crossbar by Elliot Anderson.
Mpasi was finally beaten 11 minutes later and he should have done better when Kane nodded past him from Anthony Gordon's cross on the left to equal Pele's record for World Cup goals.
Thomas Tuchel's Hydration Break chat does the trick 😏
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2026
Harry Kane meets Anthony Gordon's ball for England's equaliser 🤝🏴
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England completed the comeback four minutes from time and it was Kane who delivered when they needed it most.
Gordon kept the ball alive after Bellingham's initial shot had been saved and he slipped the ball to the striker, who advanced into the box to lash a shot into the roof of the net to make it 13 goals on the world's biggest stage.
Harry Kane delivers for the Three Lions 🦁🏴
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2026
England will play Mexico in the Round of 16 ⏭️#SSFootball | #DStvFIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/eOk97zgsTu
England (0) 2 (Kane 75' 86')
DR Congo (1) 1 (Cipenga 7')
England: J. Pickford, D. Spence (E. Eze 70'), E. Konsa, M. Guehi, N. O'Reilly, E. Anderson, D. Rice (J. Stones 90+1'), N. Madueke (B. Saka 61'), J. Bellingham, M. Rashford (A. Gordon 61'), H. Kane.
DR Congo: L. Mpasi, A. Wan-Bissaka, C. Mbemba, A. Tuanzebe, A. Masuaku (J. Kayembe 89'), N. Mukau (E. Kayembe 76'), S. Moutoussamy (F. Mayele 89'), S. Sadiki, N. Mbuku (M. Elia 64'), Y. Wissa, B. Cipenga (T. Bongonda 76').
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