By Francis Onyach - Reporter
U.S.A July 1, 2026 - England kept their FIFA World Cup dream alive after producing a resilient second-half comeback to defeat a spirited DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32, booking their place in the last 16 where they will face tournament co-hosts Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel's side entered the knockout clash at Atlanta Stadium as overwhelming favourites, but they were given an early scare by a fearless DR Congo team that threatened one of the biggest upsets of the tournament before England's quality eventually shone through.
The match exploded into life after just seven minutes.
DR Congo stunned the Three Lions when Brian Cipenga latched onto a long ball, cut inside, and fired a low finish beyond Jordan Pickford to hand the African side a dream start. It was the forward's first international goal and one that sent thousands of Congolese supporters into celebration while silencing the England fans in Atlanta.
England struggled to recover from the early setback.
Despite dominating possession, Tuchel's men found it difficult to break down a disciplined Congolese defence. Jude Bellingham came close with a pair of headers, Harry Kane forced an excellent save from Lionel Mpasi, and a penalty initially awarded to England was overturned after a VAR review, leaving the Three Lions frustrated as they trailed 1-0 at half-time.
DR Congo nearly doubled their advantage before the interval when Yoane Wissa struck the post, underlining just how dangerous Sébastien Desabre's side remained on the counterattack.
Facing elimination, England emerged after the break with far greater urgency.
The Three Lions increased the tempo, pinned DR Congo deep inside their own half and eventually found the breakthrough that shifted the momentum. England scored twice in the second half to overturn the deficit and secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory, avoiding what would have been one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.
Although DR Congo continued to fight until the final whistle, England managed the closing stages professionally to see out the win and progress to the Round of 16.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel made three changes to his starting lineup for the knockout encounter.
Declan Rice returned to strengthen the midfield, while Djed Spence and Noni Madueke were also handed starting roles. Rice's presence helped England regain control after a difficult opening spell, while Bellingham and Kane remained central to England's attacking pressure throughout the contest.
The comeback once again demonstrated England's resilience under Tuchel, with the squad showing composure despite falling behind early against determined opposition.
Although their World Cup journey ends in the Round of 32, DR Congo leave the tournament with plenty of credit.
The Leopards pushed one of Europe's strongest sides to the limit and looked capable of causing a famous upset for long periods of the match. Their disciplined defending, energetic pressing and dangerous counterattacks showcased the progress made under coach Sébastien Desabre.
Brian Cipenga's memorable goal and another impressive display from Yoane Wissa highlighted the talent within the Congolese squad, whose performances throughout the tournament earned admiration from football fans around the world.
Victory sends England into the Round of 16, where they will meet an in-form Mexico side that eliminated Ecuador 2-0.
The meeting promises to be one of the standout ties of the knockout stage, with Mexico carrying home support and defensive confidence, while England will hope their comeback victory serves as the catalyst for a deeper run in the competition.
England survived an early scare against DR Congo, but the Three Lions ultimately demonstrated the character expected of genuine contenders. For DR Congo, the defeat marks the end of an inspiring World Cup campaign that announced them as one of African football's rising forces on the global stage.