FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: England vs DR Congo Match Report – Harry Kane Rescues England in 2-1 Comeback Win Over DR Congo

It was a nervy afternoon for England in Atlanta, but Harry Kane stepped up when his country needed him most. The Three Lions avoided what would have been a monumental World Cup 2026 upset, recovering from 1-0 down to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the round of 32 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Brian Cipenga gave DR Congo a shock seventh-minute lead, and for long spells, England looked disjointed and anxious. But two late goals from Kane, both assisted by substitute Anthony Gordon, turned the tie around and sent Thomas Tuchel’s side into a last-16 showdown with co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca.

In front of 68,239 fans, England controlled the ball, created the better chances, and eventually found the finishing touch. DR Congo defended bravely and threatened a historic upset, but Kane’s elite timing proved decisive.

Match Overview

First Half: DR Congo Shock England Early

England came into this tie unbeaten in their 11 competitive fixtures under Thomas Tuchel, with 10 wins and one draw. DR Congo, ranked 46th in the world at the start of the tournament, were playing their first-ever World Cup knockout match. On paper, England were heavy favourites. On the pitch, the opening spell told a very different story.

The Three Lions started dreadfully. Before the first hydration break, they had failed to attempt a shot or even register a touch inside DR Congo’s penalty area. Their slow start was punished in the seventh minute.

Chancel Mbemba switched play superbly to find Brian Cipenga completely unmarked on the left side of the box. Djed Spence had been left trying to mark two men at the far post, and as he tracked Noah Sadiki, Cipenga found space. His shot squirmed in at Jordan Pickford’s near post to give DR Congo a stunning 1-0 lead.

More nervy moments followed. England were jeered by sections of the crowd during the first hydration break, but they almost found a response shortly afterwards when Ezri Konsa inadvertently deflected Declan Rice’s free-kick just wide.

England’s first shot did not arrive until the 30th minute, when Jude Bellingham met another Rice delivery with a thumping header that Lionel Mpasi repelled. That was England’s longest wait for a first attempt in a World Cup match on record since 1966.

Mpasi then produced another major moment, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a heroic goal-line block to deny Marcus Rashford what looked like a certain equaliser.

DR Congo had an even bigger chance to make it 2-0 when Yoane Wissa turned Wan-Bissaka’s cross wide off the outside of the post. At the other end, Mpasi made two more brilliant saves to thwart Bellingham and Kane, while Kane also saw a penalty appeal waved away when he attempted to round the goalkeeper.

England went into half-time trailing. Before this match, they had never won a World Cup game when trailing at the interval, losing seven and drawing two such matches. That unwanted record was finally about to fall.

Goal Summary

Second Half: Tuchel’s Changes Turn the Tie

England continued to look desperate early in the second half. Rashford rippled the side-netting, and Mpasi showed sharp reflexes again to keep out a deflected Bellingham cross. DR Congo’s compact shape and direct counters kept England uncomfortable.

Then Tuchel turned to his bench. Around the hour mark, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka were introduced for Rashford and Noni Madueke. The substitutions changed the rhythm of the match.

Gordon’s direct running and crossing gave England fresh width. Saka added ball progression and forced DR Congo deeper. The pressure finally told in the 75th minute when Gordon delivered from the left and Kane headed down into the bottom-left corner, with the ball going in via a touch from Mpasi’s glove.

The equaliser opened the match up. DR Congo, having defended deep for so long, suddenly had to chase the game again. England kept pushing, and after Bellingham’s angled effort was kept out by Mpasi, Gordon kept the attack alive.

Four minutes from time, Gordon found Kane again. This time, the England captain lashed a spectacular finish into the roof of the net from just inside the area. It was a moment of pure authority from England’s talisman.

There was one final scare deep into stoppage time when Bellingham conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area, but Wissa’s effort flew harmlessly over the bar, much to Tuchel’s relief.

Key Match Statistics

England’s numbers tell the story of control and pressure. They had 60% possession, outshot DR Congo 16-7, and put seven efforts on target compared to DR Congo’s two. Thirteen of England’s shots came from inside the box, while they also enjoyed 40 touches in the penalty area to DR Congo’s 12.

The expected goals gap was 2.04 to 0.76 in England’s favour. England created seven big chances but missed six before Kane finally found the clinical edge late on. Their crossing volume was huge, with 43 attempts, though accuracy sat at only 21% as DR Congo clogged the box.

England also completed 468 of 516 passes and made 75 final-third entries. Their final-third passing was strong, completing 167 of 198 passes in that zone at 84%.

DR Congo’s Resistance

DR Congo’s plan was compact, physical, and direct. They nearly made it work.

They finished with 20 tackles and 36 clearances, illustrating how much work went into protecting their early lead and then the 1-1 draw. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was central to that effort, making seven clearances, winning five duels, and producing a vital goal-line clearance. Captain Chancel Mbemba added leadership, an assist for the opener, and nine clearances of his own.

Wissa remained DR Congo’s main attacking threat. He hit the woodwork and generated 0.61 xG, their largest individual chance profile of the match. The offside trap, however, hurt DR Congo in key moments. They were caught offside four times, while England were not flagged once.

After half-time, DR Congo’s attacking threat faded. Their second-half xG dropped to just 0.07. Mpasi kept them alive for as long as he could, making five saves, including two major stops, while also claiming twice and punching clear twice under pressure.

Kane Surpasses Pelé

Harry Kane’s brace did more than rescue England; it moved him further into World Cup history.

The England captain now has 13 World Cup goals, surpassing Pelé’s 12. Only Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo Nazário, and Gerd Müller sit above him in the all-time rankings.

Kane has now scored 10 goals across his 11 major tournament knockout-stage appearances since Euro 2020. That is three more than any other European player in that period, with Mbappé next on seven.

The 32-year-old has five goals at this tournament and 16 total World Cup goal involvements. Since his World Cup debut in 2018, only Mbappé and Messi have more.

Harry Kane’s Match Impact

Kane’s final numbers underline his influence. He scored twice from five shots, hit the target three times, made one key pass, drew two fouls, and contributed three recoveries. He also helped defensively with one clearance and one interception late on.

He needed the supply line, and he got it from Gordon.

Gordon Changes the Game

Anthony Gordon became the first England player to record multiple goal involvements as a substitute in a World Cup match. His two assists in 36 minutes completely changed the direction of the game.

Gordon’s directness gave England the width and urgency they had lacked. His first cross found Kane for the equaliser, and his second decisive action kept the attack alive before Kane scored the winner.

He has now made a very strong case for a starting berth against Mexico.

Madueke had impressed before being withdrawn, creating three chances and registering 0.85 expected assists, while Elliot Anderson also contributed a strong all-court display, winning nine duels and creating three chances. But Gordon was the tactical turning point.

What This Means for England

England survived a scare, ended their long-standing record of never winning a World Cup match when trailing at half-time, and moved into the last 16.

They will now face co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca, a tie that promises noise, pressure, and heat. England will need to start far better than they did in Atlanta, but they can travel with confidence knowing Kane is still delivering when it matters most.

For DR Congo, the defeat means their first-ever World Cup knockout match ends in heartbreak. Their loss also means eight of the 10 African teams to play in the World Cup knockout stages have lost their first such match.

Still, DR Congo leave the tournament having competed with huge pride. They pushed England to the edge and were minutes away from one of the great World Cup shocks.

Read More: Overperformance: Can the United States Sustain Their World Cup Surge?

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