England moved into the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup after a 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo, with Harry Kane scoring twice late in the match to rescue Thomas Tuchel’s side after an early setback in Atlanta. The result set up a knockout meeting with co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on July 6. If England progress, they would face Brazil or Norway in the quarter-finals, with a possible semi-final against one of Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia, and a potential final against teams from the opposite side of the bracket including France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Belgium or the United States.
England fell behind inside the opening 10 minutes when DR Congo struck first, and the team remained under pressure for much of the contest before Kane turned the match around after the 70th minute. Supportive assessments focused on England’s resilience, with Tuchel saying his players kept believing and refused to accept defeat. He also praised Kane, calling the captain a match-winner whose finishing decided the game. Reports of the closing stages highlighted the role of substitute Anthony Gordon, who assisted both goals as England avoided what would have been a major upset.
More critical assessments argued that the victory did little to settle concerns about England’s overall level. Critics contended that a team with ambitions of winning the World Cup should not have struggled so heavily against DR Congo, and said the performance suggested England are not yet operating at the standard required to beat the strongest sides left in the tournament. Some analysis also pointed to recurring issues against deep-defending opponents, questioned parts of England’s wing play, and said the side relied too heavily on Kane to change the outcome. At the same time, others credited Tuchel’s in-game adjustments and substitutions with helping shift momentum.
England entered the tournament among the fancied teams after reaching the Euro 2024 final and topping Group L, though their path has included uneven displays despite progression. The team is chasing a second men’s World Cup title and a first since 1966, a long wait that has shaped expectations around successive England squads. Their route has also been affected by the tournament draw and seeding structure, which means they cannot face some of the highest-ranked contenders until the latter stages. The immediate focus, however, is on Mexico, with England needing a more convincing performance if they are to extend their run.