Harry Kane's heroics fire England past DR Congo into World Cup Round of 16

Heartbreak for DR Congo, but it's Harry Kane's world! The referee blows the final whistle, and England survive an absolute scare in Atlanta! After trailing for the majority of the match, the Three Lions pull off a dramatic comeback victory thanks to a heroic second-half brace from their captain, Harry Kane. DR Congo fought valiantly and pushed the European giants to the absolute limit, but England's star man delivers when it matters most to seal a 2-1 win and punch their ticket to the Round of 16!

90+1 mins: England 2-1 DR Congo 

Harry Kane has turned this match completely on its head with a moment of pure magic! Kane collects the ball on the right edge of the penalty area, takes a quick glance up, and unleashes a thunderous strike into the top-right corner. Dimitry Mpasi dives full stretch but has no chance of keeping it out as England complete a stunning turnaround.

England continue to pile on the pressure. Cross after cross is swung into the DR Congo penalty area as the Three Lions desperately search for a winner, but the Leopards continue to stand firm with a series of vital clearances and blocks. Can they hold on to force extra time?

82 mins: England 1-1 DR Congo

Harry Kane rises highest to meet Anthony Gordon's pinpoint cross from the left and powers a header beyond Dimitry Mpasi into the far corner. It's a huge moment for the Three Lions, who finally find the breakthrough after sustained pressure. Kane's fourth goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 levels the Round of 32 clash at 1-1 and sets up a thrilling finish in Atlanta.

The early second-half momentum has completely stalled. England are dominating possession but struggling massively to create anything meaningful. Thomas Tuchel's side are resorting to throwing hopeful, poor crosses into the penalty box, but they are finding absolutely nobody in a white shirt.

England have only won ONE World Cup game in their history when conceding the first goal. That was in the 1966 World Cup Final vs West Germany. 

It is almost a carbon copy of his chance two minutes ago. Marcus Rashford cuts inside from the left flank yet again and unleashes another fierce strike toward the near post. This time it's on target, but Lionel Mpasi is equal to it, reacting quickly to pull off a smart save and parry it away. England look seriously dangerous now!

England threatening early in the second half! Marcus Rashford drives down the left flank, cutting inside onto his right foot in trademark fashion. He lets fly with a powerful strike, but it flashes just wide of the near post and ripples the side netting.

The final 45 minutes of this Round of 32 clash are officially rolling! Thomas Tuchel's side has a massive mountain to climb in Atlanta to save their World Cup campaign

ENG 0-1 COD

On the stroke of halftime, Bellingham rises highest in the box yet again to meet a cross with a powerful header. It looks destined for the back of the net, but Mpasi pulls off another spectacular stop, clawing the header away to preserve DR Congo's lead right before the break!

Massive controversy! England are absolutely furious! Harry Kane is clean through on a breakaway with just the keeper to beat. Lionel Mpasi rushes out and looks to catch Kane's right foot as the captain tumbles in the box. The England fans scream for a penalty, but the referee waves it away, ruling it a dive! Despite apparent contact on the replay, the official is unmoved.

The Leopards nearly double their lead as a dangerous cross from the right finds Yoane Wissa unmarked inside the six-yard box. The forward stretches to apply the finishing touch, but his close-range tap-in crashes against the right side of the crossbar, letting England off the hook.

A breathless first half is winding down in Atlanta. After that frantic sequence of near-misses from Rashford and Kane, the tempo has just started to settle slightly. Thomas Tuchel's men are probing for an opening before the halftime whistle, dominating the ball but finding it incredibly tough to breach Sébastien Desabre’s disciplined defensive block.

How have England not scored here?!  Harry Kane's sliding effort is blocked, and moments later another cross is whipped in from the right. Marcus Rashford latches onto the loose ball on the left side of the box and drills a low shot towards the near post, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is perfectly positioned to make a brilliant block with his legs on the goal line.

Cipenga is absolutely terrorising the right side of England's defence! The goalscorer showcases brilliant, dazzling footwork down the left flank yet again, easily bypassing his marker to flash a dangerous ball across the face of goal. A frantic, heart-stopping goalmouth scramble follows with the ball bouncing unpredictably inside the penalty box. Fortunately for Thomas Tuchel, a panicked clearance finally spares England's blushes.

Inches away from an equaliser! England finally carve out a massive chance. Declan Rice floats a beautiful, pinpoint ball deep into the penalty box, finding a surging Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder connects cleanly, powering a goal-bound header toward the corner, but DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi pulls off a spectacular, flying reflex save to punch it away!

Noah Sadiki goes into the book after a heavy, late challenge on a surging Djed Spence down the right wing.

The Leopards are comfortably the better side right now, repeatedly exposing the English defence with dangerous, fluid play down the left flank. Thomas Tuchel's men are uncharacteristically struggling to retain possession, and captain Harry Kane has been entirely isolated, starved of service and completely nowhere in the picture.

Score: England 0 - 1 DR Congo

Frustration boils over for the Real Madrid man. Jude Bellingham goes into the referee's book after a clumsy, late challenge, sliding into Nathanaël Mbuku from behind.

There’s a sharp injection of urgency from England now after their sluggish start. Thomas Tuchel's side are immediately trying to force a response down the right flank, with Djed Spence driving forward to link up with Noni Madueke. The Congolese backline remains incredibly disciplined, quickly smothering the attack and conceding only a throw-in.

Oh my goodness, the stadium has absolutely erupted! Out of nowhere, DR Congo have stunned the Three Lions! It’s a breathtakingly simple, direct attack. A raking, diagonal ball flies all the way from the center-back position right out to Brian Cipenga on the left wing. Cipenga cuts inside, evades the English backline, and fires it home!

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi takes far too long on the ball, allowing a charging Jude Bellingham to close him down in a flash. Mpasi just gets his clearance away, with Bellingham coming within a whisker of blocking it directly into an empty net.

We are just two minutes into this Round of 32 clash, and England have immediate intentions of establishing total control.

We are officially underway at the Atlanta Stadium for this historic World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.

Starting XI: Lionel Mpasi; Arthur Masuaku, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka; Noah Sadiki, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau; Brian Cipenga, Yoane Wissa, Nathanael Mbuku

Starting XI: Jordan Pickford; Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke; Harry Kane

England topped Group L with seven points, finishing unbeaten to book their place in the knockout stage. The Three Lions began with a 4-2 win over Croatia, played out a 0-0 draw against Ghana, and wrapped up the group stage with a 2-0 victory over Panama.

DR Congo advanced to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after collecting four points in Group K. The Leopards opened with a 1-1 draw against Portugal, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Colombia, and sealed qualification with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.

Dimitry Bertaud Mpasi (GK); Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Steve Kapuadi, Arthur Masuaku; Noah Sadiki Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe; Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu.

Jordan Pickford (GK); Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, James O'Reilly; Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford; Harry Kane.

It is the first-ever meeting between England and DR Congo in international football. The Three Lions have twice taken on African teams in the knockout stages of a single World Cup before, beating Egypt 1-0 in the 1990 group stage and edging Cameroon 3-2 after extra time in the quarter-finals.

The winner of the England vs DR Congo clash will take on Mexico in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after Mexico defeated Ecuador in the Round of 32.

• India: 9:30 PM IST – Live on Unite8 Sports 2 (English) and Unite8 Sports 1 (Hindi); live streaming on ZEE5.
• United Kingdom: 5:00 PM BST – BBC One, BBC iPlayer
• DR Congo: 7:00 PM CEST – New World Sport 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7
• United States: 12:00 PM EDT – FOX, FOX One, Telemundo Network, Telemundo App, Peacock