England face DR Congo in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on 1 July at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 and the loser going home. England topped Group L with seven points from wins over Croatia and Panama and a draw with Ghana, whereas DR Congo came through as one of the best third-placed teams in Group K after a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, their first World Cup victory since they competed as Zaire in 1974 and their first ever knockout stage appearance. That history makes them easy to root for. England are among the tournament favourites.
Thomas Tuchel and Sebastien Desabre have never met in a competitive fixture, which is hardly surprising given how different their careers have been. Tuchel took the England job in January 2025 and has since extended through Euro 2028, Desabre has been in charge of DR Congo since August 2022.
England enter the knockout rounds unbeaten, opening with a 4-2 win over Croatia with Kane, Bellingham and Rashford among the scorers, then keeping back to back clean sheets against Ghana and Panama. DR Congo had a harder time of it, drawing 1-1 with Portugal and losing narrowly to Colombia before the Uzbekistan win came through at the right moment.
England are carrying a couple of injury doubts: Reece James is likely out with a hamstring problem and Jarell Quansah remains uncertain after hurting his ankle against Panama, though Declan Rice is expected back in midfield. Tuchel's likely 4-2-3-1 puts Jordan Pickford behind a back four of Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly, with Rice alongside Bellingham or Elliot Anderson in the middle and a front three of Saka, Rashford and Kane.
DR Congo have no fitness concerns and a full 26 man squad available. Desabre is expected to set up in either a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2, with Lionel Mpasi in goal, Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe in central defence, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku wide and a front line of Yoane Wissa and Meschack Elia supported by Noah Sadiki and Samuel Moutoussamy in midfield.
Tuchel's England are built to control possession and press from the front, with Rice and Bellingham driving things centrally. Desabre's side defend in a low block and look to hit on the counter and these two sides have never met before, which leaves England without any prior reference point for how DR Congo set up specifically against them. The duels that should define the match are Kane versus the Mbemba-Tuanzebe partnership in the air and Saka and Rashford trying to get in behind Masuaku and Wan-Bissaka, with England's midfield two needing to win the tempo battle against Sadiki and Moutoussamy if they are to control proceedings. From dead balls, England can hurt through Kane's aerial threat and delivery from Saka and Bellingham, while DR Congo carry a set piece threat of their own through Mbemba and Wissa. Atlanta's humidity could become a factor late on and England's bench options of Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Noni Madueke give Tuchel more flexibility to manage fatigue than Desabre has.
England win this 2-1. The Kane versus Mbemba-Tuanzebe duel is the real hinge: if Mbemba can limit Kane aerially and keep DR Congo's defensive shape intact, the Congolese have a reasonable chance of staying level well into the second half, with Wissa on the counter a genuine danger throughout. But Bellingham's ability to find pockets in the DR Congo midfield and England's superior depth off the bench should be enough to see them through.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
