Harry Kane sends England into the round of 16 of the World Cup after 2-1 win against Congo

Harry Kane sends England into the round of 16 of the World Cup after 2-1 win against Congo

England avoided a historic upset on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as Harry Kane scored twice in the second half to lead the Three Lions to a 2-1 victory over Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The win secures England a spot in the round of 16 of the inaugural 48-team World Cup.

The match began with an early shock. In the seventh minute, Brian Cipenga collected a cross on the left of the box and shot low past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at the near post to give Congo a 1-0 lead. England struggled to regain control for much of the game, marking only the second time the 1966 champions have won a World Cup match after conceding the first goal, the first being the 1966 final against West Germany.

Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi nearly maintained the shutout, recording five saves on seven shots. Mpasi blocked three attempts from Jude Bellingham, including two close-range headers before halftime. He also denied a powerful shot from Kane late in the first half. During that period, Congo almost doubled their lead when Yoane Wissa hit the post.

England’s frustration grew when referee Adham Makhadmeh waved away appeals for a penalty following a collision between Mpasi and Kane in the box. England eventually broke through in the 75th minute when substitute Anthony Gordon crossed from the left, allowing Kane to head the ball into the bottom corner despite Mpasi getting a hand to the shot.

Kane sealed the victory in the 86th minute, firing a shot into the top corner. The brace brought Kane's tournament total to five goals and his total World Cup tally to 13, surpassing the record of Brazilian legend Pele. Kane now holds a record 84 goals for the national team across 117 appearances.

"It was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock and our moment would come,"

Harry Kane, England forward, via AP

England coach Thomas Tuchel praised the team's determination, stating that the squad did not accept defeat as an outcome. But the performance was not without criticism. The decision by Tuchel to leave out Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Adam Wharton has been questioned throughout the four group games. Observers noted a lack of creativity and line-breaking passes, and Djed Spence struggled in his role before being replaced by Eberechi Eze in a more offensive formation. England also missed Chelsea left back Reece James, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

For Congo, the 46th-ranked team, the loss followed a historic run that included their first-ever World Cup win against Uzbekistan and a 1-1 draw against Portugal. Before the match, Yoane Wissa spoke of the team's motivation, citing the war in East Congo.

"Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them,"

Yoane Wissa, Congo player, via sports.yahoo.com

Congo coach Sébastien Desabre expressed disappointment, noting that his team played well until conceding two chances to one of the world's best players.

England now prepares for a high-stakes encounter against co-host Mexico on Sunday, July 5, in Mexico City. The match will take place at Estadio Azteca, the site where England was eliminated by Argentina in 1986. Mexico enters the match with a perfect record, winning their first four games by a combined score of 8-0 without conceding a single goal. Mexico recently defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night behind goals from Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones.

The upcoming clash pits England's recent resilience against a Mexican side buoyed by home crowds and altitude. For Tuchel, a German manager whose appointment was considered controversial due to the sporting rivalry between the two nations, a deep run in the tournament is seen as essential to silencing critics of his selection and tactical choices.