England secured a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup after coming from behind to defeat a spirited DR Congo 2-1.
Captain Harry Kane inspired the Three Lions’ comeback, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to overturn DR Congo’s early lead.
DR Congo stunned England in the seventh minute when C. Cipenga found the back of the net to give the African side a surprise advantage.
The Congolese defended resolutely and held onto their lead throughout the first half, frustrating England with a disciplined performance. They maintained their advantage until the closing stages before eventually succumbing to sustained pressure.
Kane restored parity in the 75th minute, rising to head home England’s equaliser and spark the comeback.
The England skipper struck again 10 minutes later, firing home from close range to complete the turnaround and seal a dramatic victory for the Three Lions.
England will now face co-host Mexico in the Round of 16 as they continue their quest for World Cup glory.
The defeat means DR Congo become the third African nation to exit the tournament in the knockout stage, following the eliminations of South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire by Mexico and fellow co-host Canada, respectively. Morocco remain the only African team still in the competition after stunning the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
