England survived a major scare in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after captain Harry Kane scored twice in the second half to inspire a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium. The hard-fought win sends the Three Lions into the Round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico.
Despite entering the knockout match as favourites, England were pushed to the limit by a fearless DR Congo side that delivered one of their finest World Cup performances.
⚽ Match Summary
| 🏆 Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
| ⚽ Match | England vs DR Congo |
| 📍 Venue | Atlanta Stadium |
| 🏅 Round | Round of 32 |
| ✅ Result | England 2-1 DR Congo |
| ⭐ Player of the Match | Harry Kane |
🔥 DR Congo Shock England Early
DR Congo made a dream start, refusing to sit back against one of the tournament favourites. Their aggressive pressing paid off inside the opening seven minutes when Cipenga found the net with a low strike beyond Jordan Pickford, scoring his first-ever international goal on football’s biggest stage.
England struggled to respond during the opening half. Thomas Tuchel’s side found it difficult to break through the disciplined DR Congo defence, while goalkeeper Mpasi produced several impressive saves to frustrate Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
The Leopards nearly doubled their advantage before halftime when Yoane Wissa struck the post, leaving England trailing 1-0 at the break.
🎯 Harry Kane Leads England’s Comeback
England gradually increased the pressure after the restart, and substitute Anthony Gordon changed the game with two outstanding assists.
The equaliser finally arrived when Gordon delivered a pinpoint cross for Harry Kane, who headed past Mpasi to make it 1-1.
Only minutes later, England completed the turnaround. Following another attack created by Gordon, Kane unleashed a powerful finish into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance and putting England ahead for the first time in the match.
📊 Harry Kane Makes More History
Kane’s match-winning performance added another milestone to his remarkable World Cup career.
| 📈 Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| ⚽ Goals vs DR Congo | 2 |
| 🌍 FIFA World Cup Career Goals | 13 |
| ⚽ Goals in FIFA World Cup 2026 | 5 |
| 🏅 Knockout Record | First England player since Gary Lineker (1990) to score twice in a World Cup knockout match |
Anthony Gordon also played a decisive role by registering two assists after coming off the bench.
👏 DR Congo Exit with Pride
Although eliminated, DR Congo earned widespread praise for their courageous display. The Leopards matched England for long periods, defended with determination, and came within minutes of producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Their spirited campaign, highlighted by a memorable victory over Uzbekistan in the group stage, has established them as one of the surprise packages of FIFA World Cup 2026.
📺 Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Live in India
Football fans in India can continue watching FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live on ZEE5 with commentary available in Malayalam, English, Hindi, and Bangla. The tournament is also available through Unite8 Sports, bringing comprehensive multilingual coverage to viewers across the country.
📌 Match Highlights
- ✅ England defeated DR Congo 2-1
- ⚽ Harry Kane scored both goals in the second half
- 🎯 Anthony Gordon provided two assists
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo led 1-0 at halftime through Cipenga
- 🏆 England advance to the Round of 16
- 🇲🇽 Next Opponent: Mexico
