England 2-1 DR Congo: FIFA World Cup 2026. Thomas Tuchel’s team trailed from the seventh minute, when Brian Cipenga opened the scoring, until the 75th minute when Harry Kane equalised, with the England skipper then blasting a brilliant winner in a dramatic turnaround. England’s reward is a Round of 16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium on Sunday, 5 July.
Congo had never played a World Cup knockout game before, yet they made a dream start after seven minutes with Cipenga’s first-ever international goal. A crossfield ball from the right was flicked on by Chancel Mbemba to Cipenga, who was completely free on the left side of the box to fire in a low shot that beat Jordan Pickford at his near post.
At the other end, Congo might have snatched a second goal when Yoane Wissa turned Wan-Bissaka’s low centre against the post.
It took Tuchel’s changes of his wingers to spark the fightback, substitute Anthony Gordon crossing for Kane to head his 12th World Cup finals goal. Number 13 would certainly be lucky for England as Kane turned away from his marker and unleashed an unstoppable shot inside the near post.