Thomas Tuchel and England will travel to Atlanta to take on DR Congo in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup as knockout football begins.
The Three Lions came into this year’s tournament as one of the favourites according to bookmakers, but it hasn’t been easy for Tuchel’s men to get to this stage of the competition.
A fantastic second-half performance saw England beat their main Group L competitors, Croatia, 4-2. But it was their second game against Ghana where they became unstuck.
Ghana set up fantastically and frustrated an England side that couldn’t find the answers to break them down, leading to a 0-0 draw.
Their final group game against Panama looked like it was following a similar trend until Jude Bellingham converted from a set piece and Harry Kane rounded out a 2-0 win. He became England’s highest-ever World Cup goal scorer in the process
DR Congo’s performances in Group K followed a very similar trend. Congo opened with a fantastic draw against Portugal after fighting back from 1-0 down. They were then beaten 1-0 by Colombia and left needing three points in their final game for any chance of qualification.
They made short work of Uzbekistan, beating them 3-1 and earning a place in the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.
The winner of this tie will face the winner of Mexico vs Ecuador in Mexico City in the round of 16 – which, if the co-hosts qualify, would be no easy task.
How to watch England vs DR Congo
England vs DR Congo kicks off at 17:00 GMT on Wednesday, July 1 at the Atlanta Stadium.
This match will be shown live in the UK on BBC One, with streaming also available via BBC iPlayer.
In the United States, World Cup coverage is available on FOX Sports and Telemundo.
In Canada, coverage is available on CTV, TSN and RDS.
England team news
Let’s start by addressing the enormous Elephant in the room – Who is gonna play right back?
Every England fan in the country knew there was little to no chance of Reece James making it through the World Cup without picking up some form of injury.
So that poses the question of why, when Tino Livramento went home injured (James’ natural replacement), a right back was brought in as cover? I’m sure Trent Alexander-Arnold asked the same question.
It was Jarell Quansah who was given the nod at right back for the final group game vs Panama. But of course… he was subbed off injured!
That leaves Djed Spence as the obvious option to slot in. Anyway, there are ten other positions left to fill in the squad, and whilst a lot of them pick themselves, there are a lot of places up for grabs here.
Harry Kane will obviously lead the line, whilst if Declan Rice is to return following his knock, then Jude Bellingham will be deployed further forward in the midfield than we saw against Panama.
Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa will likely continue their partnership at the back after keeping two clean sheets in two, despite looking shaky at times.
Given the current injury problems, Tuchel has a bit of a headache when deciding who gets the nod for this game. But this is knockout football now, and he can’t afford to get it wrong.
Expected XI:
(4-2-3-1) Pickford – Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly – Anderson, Rice – Saka, Bellingham, Rashford – Kane.
DR Congo team news
Whilst DR Congo aren’t facing the same injury problems as England and Tuchel are, they also don’t have the same depth.
This also means we are unlikely to see many changes from their group games. But they are still a very capable side.
Whilst Newcastle striker Yoanne Wissa didn’t set the Premier League alight this season, he is enjoying a fruitful tournament so far with three goals.
Congo are also fairly solid at the back, and Premier League fans will recognise their back four as they have all enjoyed spells in England.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku not only defend the wide areas but also provide some width on the overlap with their quality. Axel Tuanzebe and Chancel Mbemba have formed a solid partnership at the back to match.
Those four will have to be on top of their game, along with Noah Sadiki and his high energy and pressing in midfield, if they are to keep England at bay.
Expected XI:
(4-4-2) Mpasi-Nzau – Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku – Mbuku, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Cipenga – Wissa, Bakambu.
England vs DR Congo stats
- Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer with 11 goals.
- Jude Bellingham is the youngest England player to score and assist at the World Cup since 1966.
- It took England 62 minutes to open the scoring against Panama after drawing 0-0 with Ghana.
- England topped their World Cup group in consecutive tournaments for the first time in their history.
- DR Congo’s 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan was their first ever at a World Cup.
- DR Congo are playing in their first-ever World Cup knockout match
- Yoanne Wissa has scored three of DR Congo’s four goals, including a brace against Uzbekistan.
England vs DR Congo prediction
Look, England haven’t exactly set the world alight this World Cup outside of the second-half against Croatia. But neither have DR Congo.
The problem England have faced so far is when teams sit and camp on a low block. They struggle to penetrate and find answers at times, but they did find a way through against Panama.
Granted, this DR Congo side will be closer to the Ghana side England drew 0-0 with than Panama. But even then, England had chances to win that game; it wasn’t a case of creating absolutely nothing.
From a DR Congo point of view, they will have seen those England games and know they can frustrate them as well. They will hope to get something on the counter with their pace and the quality that Wissa has shown so far.
That’s a dangerous game in knockout football though; one defensive mishap and England will be all over it.
Do I think England will make short work of Congo? No. Do I think they will do enough to qualify? Yes.
I also feel like this England defence has ridden its luck at times in the group. They were exposed against Croatia and lucky to keep a clean sheet against Ghana.
Congo have shown they can score goals when needed. With their pace on the counter, they will fancy their chances. That’s why I think both teams to score appeals here.
If England are to find a way through and win this one, you will be hard-pressed to bet against Harry Kane being on the scoresheet. The England number nine is enjoying a Ballon d’Or-worthy season, so pick him to score here.
