England Beat DR Congo 2-1 to Reach World Cup Last 16

Harry Kane scored twice as England fought back from an early deficit to defeat DR Congo 2-1, booking a place in the World Cup Round of 16 against co-hosts Mexico.

England secured a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coming from behind to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 encounter on Wednesday.

Captain Harry Kane emerged as the hero for the Three Lions, scoring two late goals to overturn an early setback and send Thomas Tuchel’s side into the knockout stage, where they will face tournament co-hosts Mexico.

DR Congo made a dream start to the contest, stunning England with an early breakthrough. Brian Cipenga capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire the Central Africans into the lead, silencing England supporters and putting Tuchel’s men under immediate pressure.

England dominated possession for much of the match and created several chances but struggled to find a breakthrough against a determined Congolese defence. DR Congo remained disciplined and threatened on the counterattack, forcing England to remain cautious despite their attacking intent.

As frustration began to grow, Kane finally delivered the equaliser midway through the second half. The Bayern Munich striker found space inside the penalty area before calmly finishing past the goalkeeper to restore parity and revive England’s hopes.

With momentum now firmly on their side, England pushed relentlessly for a winner while DR Congo defended resolutely in an attempt to force extra time.

The decisive moment arrived inside the final five minutes when Kane struck again. The England captain unleashed a powerful finish to complete his brace and seal a hard-fought comeback victory for the 1966 world champions.

The victory keeps alive England’s ambition of winning their first World Cup title in 60 years under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, who took over following the departure of Gareth Southgate.

Despite the defeat, DR Congo earned praise for a spirited performance against one of the tournament favourites and exited the competition with their heads held high after pushing England throughout the contest.

England will now prepare for a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash against Mexico, who defeated Ecuador 2-0 to end their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory. The encounter is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the next round as both nations seek a place in the quarter-finals.