England vs. Congo DR LIVE: World Cup 2026 updates

England vs. Congo DR LIVE: World Cup 2026 updates as Mexico await winner

In a stunning opening to their Round of 32 clash in Atlanta, DR Congo took a 1-0 lead over England in the seventh minute of the match on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Brian Cipenga scored the early goal, burying a low shot past Jordan Pickford after a cross from Chancel Mbemba went over the head of Noah Sadiki.

The result marks a historic moment for DR Congo, which is playing in its first-ever World Cup knockout game. The team entered the match as underdogs, having advanced after a 1-1 draw with Portugal and a victory over Uzbekistan. England, the heavy favorites, struggled to respond to the early deficit, appearing rattled with disorganized passing in the opening 20 minutes.

England's offense faced a resilient defense and an inspired goalkeeper in Lionel Mpasi. The DR Congo stopper produced several crucial saves to preserve the lead, including denying headers from Jude Bellingham and a close-range volley from Harry Kane. England also saw a shot from Marcus Rashford cleared off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Controversy struck when Harry Kane went down in the box under pressure from Mpasi. While Kane was adamant it was a penalty, the referee awarded a free kick to DR Congo for simulation. The decision was reviewed by VAR but remained unchanged.

DR Congo nearly doubled their advantage shortly before halftime. Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered a cross that allowed Yoane Wissa to flick a right-footed shot toward the goal, but the ball hit the post and deflected out.

Tactical Shifts and Lineups

England manager Thomas Tuchel made three changes to the lineup that defeated Wales in the final group game. Djed Spence started at right-back to cover for the injured Reece James and Jarrell Quansah. Noni Madueke started on the right wing in place of Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice returned to the midfield for Morgan Rogers. England employed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Jude Bellingham playing as the No. 10 behind Harry Kane.

DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre opted for a 4-3-3 formation, making one change from the Uzbekistan win by bringing Ngal'ayel Mukau into the midfield for Cédric Bakambu to gain more control in the center.

The match has been characterized by high tension and discipline issues. Both Jude Bellingham and Noah Sadiki have received yellow cards for slide tackles. England has historically struggled when conceding first in the World Cup; they have not won a men's match in which they conceded first since the 1966 final.

Context and Tournament Stakes

For DR Congo, this campaign is a reversal of their 1974 appearance as Zaire, where they lost all three group matches and conceded 14 goals. This generation has already achieved the nation's first World Cup victory. Coach Desabre stated that while the match was difficult, it was in no way insurmountable based on previous performances against superior teams.

England's path has been less convincing. While they dominated Croatia 4-2 in their opener, they appeared sluggish against Ghana and Panama.

Other Round of 32 Action

Elsewhere in the tournament, other results are shaping the bracket:

• Mexico advanced to the round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Ecuador.
• France secured a dominant 3-0 victory against Sweden.
• The U.S. Men's national team is scheduled for a later matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Belgium is set to face Senegal in an afternoon clash.

The tournament has also seen the introduction of a new FIFA rule penalizing players for covering their mouths during confrontational exchanges. Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié became the second player sent off under this rule following an exchange with Santi Giménez. Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was the first to be punished via this rule during the group stage.

The winner of the England and DR Congo match will advance to face Mexico in the round of 16.