England fought back from an early deficit to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 on Wednesday, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice to send the Three Lions into the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DR Congo stunned England in the seventh minute when Brian Cipenga capitalised on a defensive lapse before drilling a low shot past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to give the African side an early lead.
Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated possession after falling behind but struggled to break down a disciplined Congolese defence. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced several important saves to frustrate England, while Yoane Wissa also came close to doubling DR Congo’s advantage before half-time by striking the post.
England finally found a breakthrough in the 75th minute when substitute Anthony Gordon delivered a cross that Kane powered home with a header to level the score.
Just 11 minutes later, Kane completed the comeback in spectacular fashion, firing a powerful long-range strike into the top corner to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory and book England’s place in the last 16.
The victory also saw Kane reach 13 FIFA World Cup goals, moving him ahead of Brazilian legend Pelé on the tournament’s all-time scoring chart.
England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16, while DR Congo bow out after an impressive tournament that included their first-ever World Cup victory and a historic first appearance in the knockout stage.
Although eliminated, DR Congo earned widespread praise for their spirited performances throughout the tournament, pushing one of the competition’s favourites to the brink before England’s captain ultimately made the difference.
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