Kane Breaks England Record as Group Winners Face Historic Congo Side
Kane Breaks England Record as Group Winners Face Historic Congo Side
England face DR Congo in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET at Atlanta Stadium. England enter as group winners; DR Congo reach the knockout rounds for the first time in the country's footballing history.
England finished Group L with a record of two wins and one draw, scoring six goals and conceding two across three matches. They opened with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, drew 0-0 with Ghana, then closed the group stage with a 2-0 win over Panama. Harry Kane, the Tottenham Hotspur and England captain, has scored three times in the tournament. Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, has contributed two goals. Kane's third goal - scored against Panama - was his 11th career World Cup goal, moving him past Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament. mybookie italian serie
DR Congo advanced from Group K as one of the best third-place finishers, accumulating four points. They drew 1-1 with Portugal in their opener, lost 1-0 to Colombia, then defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 to secure progression. Striker Yoane Wissa scored three times during the group stage. The victory over Uzbekistan delivered DR Congo's first-ever appearance in a World Cup knockout fixture. The country's sole previous World Cup participation came in 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire and did not score in three group-stage matches.
The winner advances to the Round of 16. For DR Congo, the match represents uncharted territory; for England, a chance to build momentum behind Kane's record-setting form as the tournament moves into its knockout phase.
