FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 32, Match 78 | Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia | Referee: Adham Makhadmeh
A decade ago, England went out of a major tournament to Iceland. In the 52nd minute of a round of 16 game at Euro 2016, they were level with a team 160 places below them in the world rankings and the whole football world was laughing. When Ragnar Sigurdsson put Iceland ahead in the 57th, the laughter turned to disbelief. England went home.
On Wednesday in Atlanta, history almost found a way to repeat itself. Brian Cipenga scored in the seventh minute. DR Congo — making their first World Cup knockout appearance since playing as Zaire in 1974 — held that lead for over an hour. Lionel Mpasi was extraordinary in goal. Yoane Wissa hit the post. England stumbled, panicked, failed to carve out chances against a side they were supposed to dismantle.
Then Anthony Gordon came on. Twice he set up his captain. Harry Kane headed home to level and then, in the 86th minute, received the ball on the edge of the box, made space with a clever touch, and unleashed a fierce drive into the roof of the net.
England 2-1 DR Congo. Into the Round of 16 against Mexico at the Azteca. An alarming afternoon that raises enormous questions about whether this side can actually win this tournament.
Cipenga’s goal was almost wholly England’s fault. Djed Spence — the third different player to start at right back in four matches, deputising for the injured Reece James and the subsequently injured Jarell Quansah — failed to cut out Chancel Mbemba’s cross from deep. The ball looped over him. Cipenga, unmarked, controlled it and slammed a low shot past Pickford at his near post. Seven minutes played. DR Congo in front. Their substitutes poured onto the pitch to celebrate.
England looked paralysed from that point. The first half was a mess of nervous possession, lack of attacking intent, and a kind of collective anxiety that tightened as the half wore on. Jude Bellingham collected a booking for a clumsy challenge, visibly frustrated. Reece James — watching from the stands with his hamstring injury — reportedly had a word with him during a hydration break. Declan Rice could not exert control. Elliot Anderson curled one just onto the roof of the net, going over rather than in. Ezri Konsa’s diverted attempt from a Rice cross could not find the target. Mpasi was not even particularly tested.
Wissa could have made it 2-0. He drove forward, got a shot away, and the ball struck the right post. That was the moment England might have fallen apart completely. Instead they survived.
Mpasi made a decision before half-time that nearly cost him everything. He flew out at Kane’s feet to claim a loose ball — an aerial challenge outside his area that required everything to go right. It went right this time. A goalkeeper’s instinct that bordered on reckless bravery.
The second half brought more of the same pattern initially. England pressing, creating, never finishing. Bellingham forced a save. The penalty box pinball that the ESPN commentary memorably described — England getting the ball into dangerous positions and watching it bounce away without a decisive touch. Substitutions arrived. Gordon replaced Madueke on the right.
The equaliser came in the 78th minute. Gordon drove to the byline, delivered a cross, and Kane was at the back post. A header. Clean contact. 1-1. Kane’s 12th World Cup goal. The stadium noise changed immediately.
Then the 86th minute. Gordon again — the involvement that justified the substitution completely. His pass found Kane on the edge of the box. One touch inside. The shot was hit with ferocity. Into the roof of the net. 2-1. Eight minutes of injury time were signalled. Wissa struck a free-kick narrowly over in stoppage time. The whistle blew. England were through.
The questions will not go away. This was the first time England had won a World Cup match after conceding first since the 1966 World Cup final. The fact that it needed to happen says something. <cite index=”22-1″>A decade on from the embarrassing Euros exit to Iceland, history threatened to repeat itself.</cite> It did not. Just.
DR Congo have nothing to be ashamed of. Cipenga’s goal was excellent. Mpasi was outstanding throughout. Wissa hit the post. They pushed and pressed and never accepted the inevitability of defeat that a less confident side would have retreated into. Their World Cup story — going home in the Round of 32, but doing it with a goal and a performance — is one of the tournament’s most compelling.
England face Mexico on Monday July 6 at the Azteca. The co-hosts, winning their home World Cup in front of their own crowd. Tuchel has work to do between now and then. A lot of it.
For live World Cup scores and Round of 16 coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full results, standings and knockout bracket at the official FIFA World Cup website.
England 2-1 DR Congo FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32, Match 78 | Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia | Referee: Adham Makhadmeh
Goals: Brian Cipenga 7′ (DR Congo, assist: Chancel Mbemba diagonal), Harry Kane 78′ (England, assist: Anthony Gordon cross — header), Harry Kane 86′ (England, assist: Anthony Gordon — fierce drive, roof of net)
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guéhi, Robertson; Rice, Anderson; Gordon (sub on), Bellingham, Madueke (Gordon 66′); Kane
DR Congo (4-3-3): Mpasi; Mbemba, Kapuadi, Boji, Masuaku; Iqbal (Kayembe 80′), Moutoussamy, Mukau; Cipenga (Moke 73′), Wissa, Akolo
Yellow Cards: Bellingham (England)
Stats: Possession England — DR Congo | xG — | Half-time: 0-1
Round of 16: England vs Mexico (Azteca Stadium, Mexico City — Monday 6 July)
