England enter this Round of 32 fixture in strong shape after finishing top of their group with seven points. Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Croatia 4-2, drew 0-0 with Ghana and then secured a 2-0 win over Panama. They have scored six goals so far, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford all getting on the scoresheet.
DR Congo arrive here after making history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Their group campaign brought a 1-1 draw against Portugal, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Yoane Wissa has been their key goal threat, scoring three times, while Fiston Mayele also found the net.
On paper, England have the stronger squad and more experience at this level. However, DR Congo have already shown they can make life difficult for strong teams, especially in their draw against Portugal. England are expected to control possession, while DR Congo will likely defend deep and look to counter quickly through Wissa. The main question is whether England can break down a compact back five without leaving space for DR Congo to attack in transition.
England Tactical Analysis
England are expected to stay with Thomas Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1, but the key will be speed and movement in the final third. DR Congo are unlikely to press high, so England will probably have more possession of the ball. The challenge is turning that possession into clear chances before the defensive block settles.
Kane will be central to that plan. He can drop deeper to pull centre-backs out of position, opening space for Bellingham, Rashford and Saka to run beyond him. Saka can drift inside from the right, while Rashford gives England more direct running from the left. That movement is important against a back five that wants to stay narrow.
In midfield, Rice gives England protection against counters, while Elliot Anderson can help move the ball forward earlier. England cannot afford to recycle possession too slowly. If they move the ball with tempo and use the wide areas well, they should create openings.
Defensively, the main focus will be stopping the first pass into Wissa. DR Congo do not need long build-up phases to create danger, so Rice’s positioning in front of the back line could be just as important as England’s attacking play.
England Match Performance Stats
| Match Statistic | England vs Croatia (4–2) | England vs Ghana (0–0) | Panama vs England (0–2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals | — | 1.36 | 1.56 |
| Shots on Target | 11 | 3 | 6 |
| Shots off Target | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Blocked Shots | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Possession (%) | 52% | 79% | 67% |
| Corner Kicks | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Fouls | 10 | 14 | 13 |
| Throw-ins | 15 | 22 | 14 |
| Yellow Cards | — | 1 | 1 |
| Red Cards | — | — | — |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Goal Kicks | 6 | 1 | 8 |
| Crosses | 12 | 7 | 4 |
| Counter Attacks | 4 | — | — |
England World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City).
Defenders
Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Djed Spence (Tottenham).
Midfielders
Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal).
Forwards
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Noni Madueke (Arsenal).
England Players to Watch
Harry Kane
Kane remains England’s main reference point in attack. He has already scored three goals in the tournament and gives England more than just finishing. His ability to drop into midfield can create space for runners around him, especially Bellingham and Rashford. Against a deep defence, his movement and finishing could be vital.
Bukayo Saka
Saka gives England balance and creativity from the right. He can hold width, attack defenders one-on-one or move inside to combine in tighter areas. Against DR Congo’s back five, his decision-making will matter. If he draws defenders out of position, England can create space for overlaps and cut-backs.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford offers pace and direct running from the left. He gives England a different route to goal, especially when Kane drops deeper and space opens behind the defence. His movement into the box could be important if DR Congo stay compact for long periods.
Declan Rice
Rice will be key to England’s control. He protects the defence, stops counters early and helps England keep pressure on opponents. With DR Congo looking to play forward quickly into Wissa, Rice’s positioning could stop dangerous attacks before they start.
Our Predicted Lineup for England
4-2-3-1
GK: Jordan Pickford
RB: Djed Spence
CB: Ezri Konsa
CB: Marc Guéhi
LB: Nico O’Reilly
DM: Declan Rice
DM: Elliot Anderson
RW: Bukayo Saka
AM: Jude Bellingham
LW: Marcus Rashford
ST: Harry Kane
DR Congo Tactical Analysis
DR Congo are expected to continue with their 5-3-2, and the plan should be clear. They will sit deep, keep the lines close and make England work for every opening. Against Portugal and Colombia, they showed they can defend without much possession, and the same approach is likely here.
The back five will need to stay compact, with Chancel Mbemba organising the centre of the defence. The space in front of the back line will also be important, as DR Congo cannot allow Bellingham to receive freely and turn towards goal. Rather than chasing the ball, they will try to block passing lanes and force England wide.
Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku have important roles as wing-backs. They will spend much of the game tracking England’s wide players and stopping overlaps. If they get isolated too often, England could create chances from the flanks.
Going forward, DR Congo will look to play early passes into Wissa or Bongonda. They will not build slowly. Their best moments are likely to come when England lose the ball with players pushed high.
DR Congo Match Performance Stats
| Match Statistic | Portugal vs DR Congo (1–1) | Colombia vs DR Congo (1–0) | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan (3–1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals | 0.87 | 0.37 | 2.18 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Shots off Target | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| Blocked Shots | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Possession (%) | 25% | 36% | 58% |
| Corner Kicks | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Offsides | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Fouls | 10 | 16 | 6 |
| Throw-ins | 15 | 20 | 26 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Red Cards | — | — | — |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Goal Kicks | 8 | 11 | 7 |
| Crosses | 1 | 4 | 6 |
DR Congo World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers
Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liège), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre).
Defenders
Dylan Batubinsika (Larisa), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Gédéon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Łódź), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Racing Lens), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham).
Midfielders
Théo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Brian Cipenga (Castellón), Meschack Elia (Alanyaspor), Gaël Kakuta (Larisa), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland).
Forwards
Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis), Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle).
DR Congo Players to Watch
Yoane Wissa
Wissa is DR Congo’s biggest threat in attack. He has already scored three goals in the group stage, including a brace against Uzbekistan. He likes to play on the shoulder and attack space early, especially in the left channel. Against England, his runs behind the right side of the defence could be DR Congo’s clearest route to goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Wan-Bissaka will have a lot of defensive work to do from wing-back. His strength in one-on-one defending could be important against players like Saka and Rashford. If he can delay attacks and stop England creating overloads on his side, DR Congo will have a better chance of keeping their shape.
Noah Sadiki
Sadiki brings energy to midfield. His role is not to control possession but to close space, win second balls and move the ball forward quickly when DR Congo regain it. He will also need to stay close to central areas to limit Bellingham’s influence.
Chancel Mbemba
Mbemba is the leader of the defensive line. He reads the game well, deals with crosses and keeps the back five organised. Against England, he will need to manage Kane’s movement and make sure the defence does not get pulled out of shape.
Our Predicted Lineup for DR Congo
5-3-2
GK: Lionel Mpasi
RWB: Aaron Wan‑Bissaka
CB: Axel Tuanzebe
CB: Chancel Mbemba
CB: Dylan Batubinsika
LWB: Arthur Masuaku
RCM: Charles Pickel
CM: Samuel Moutoussamy
LCM: Noah Sadiki
RS: Théo Bongonda
LS: Yoane Wissa
England vs DR Congo Tactical Battle
This match could come down to how quickly England move the ball around DR Congo’s back five. Having possession will not be enough. England need movement around the box, early passes into the gaps and runners attacking the space Kane creates when he drops deeper.
DR Congo’s defensive shape will try to make the game narrow. If England are forced into slow passing across the back line, that will suit Sébastien Desabre’s side. England need Saka and Rashford to stretch the pitch, but they also need Bellingham close enough to Kane to attack central spaces.
The transition battle is just as important. DR Congo will not need many passes to threaten England’s defence. If Wissa can receive early and turn into space, England could be exposed. That is where Rice becomes important, because he has to stop counters before they become dangerous.
Set-pieces could also matter. England have the aerial quality to create chances from corners and free-kicks, while DR Congo will see every dead-ball situation as a chance to put pressure on Pickford’s box. England should control the game, but they must avoid giving DR Congo easy moments to stay in it.
Our Match Favourite
After looking at both teams, England should start as favourites, but this is not a game they can treat lightly. DR Congo have already shown they can make matches uncomfortable, especially when they stay compact and force stronger teams to take risks in possession.
England’s biggest advantage is the quality they have in the final third. Kane, Bellingham, Saka and Rashford give them several ways to create chances, even against a deep defence. If England move the ball quickly and avoid becoming too predictable, they should eventually find space.
DR Congo’s route into the match is clear. They need to defend well, keep the game tight and use Wissa’s pace whenever England leave space behind. If they can keep the score level deep into the second half, pressure could begin to build on England.
Even so, England have more control, more attacking variety and more experience in knockout football. DR Congo can make this difficult, but England should have enough quality to get through. A 2-1 victory for England feels like the most likely outcome.
England and DR Congo Comparison
| Comparison | England | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
| World Football Ranking | 4 | 41 |
| World Cup Participations | 17 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) | 2 (1974, 2026) |
| Consecutive Group Stage Qualifications | 8 | 1 |
| Head Coach | Thomas Tuchel | Sébastien Desabre |
| Best World Cup Finish | Champions (1966) | Group Stage (1974) |
| Form (Last 5 Matches) | W W W D W | D L D L W |
| Head-to-head | No previous meetings | No previous meetings |
| Recent Major Achievement | Euro 2020 & 2024 finalists, 2022 World Cup quarter-finals | AFCON 2023 semi-finals (4th place) |
Match Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs DR Congo |
| Competition | Football World Cup 2026 |
| Stage | Round of 32 |
| Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Stadium | Atlanta Stadium |
| Location | Atlanta, United States |
| Kick-off Time | 17:00 UK Time |
| Referee | Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhdmeh |