FIFA World Cup 2026 | RO-32: England 2 - 1 Congo ~ KHALVONTAWI - Voice of the Voiceless from Northeast India

FIFA World Cup 2026 | RO-32: England 2 - 1 Congo

ENGLAND booked their place in the Round of 16 after coming from behind to defeat DR CONGO 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium on 01 July 2026. The African side made a dream start when Brian Cipenga fired them into the lead in the 7th minute, stunning the English defence with an early finish. England dominated possession for much of the match but struggled to break down a determined DR Congo defence. Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 75th minute when captain Harry Kane equalised with a composed finish. With extra time looming, Kane struck again in the 86th minute to complete the comeback and send England into the next round.

ENGLAND created the better chances throughout the contest, forcing the Congolese defence to work tirelessly under constant pressure. DR Congo defended bravely and looked capable of holding on for a famous victory, while goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud made several important saves. However, England's attacking quality eventually proved decisive as Kane's experience and clinical finishing turned the match around in the closing stages.

DR CONGO leave the tournament with their heads held high after a spirited performance against one of the tournament favourites, while England advance confidently to the Round of 16, where they will face Mexico. The match highlighted England's resilience and determination, proving once again that knockout football can change in just a matter of minutes.

🌎 Harry Kane just scored his 12th World Cup goal and is now 8th on the list of all-time World Cup top scorers 👏
1️⃣ Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 - 19 ⚽
2️⃣ Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷 - 18 ⚽
3️⃣ Miroslav Klose 🇩🇪 - 16 ⚽
4️⃣ Ronaldo 🇧🇷 - 15 ⚽
5️⃣ Gerd Müller 🇩🇪 - 14 ⚽
6️⃣ Just Fontaine 🇫🇷 - 13 ⚽
7️⃣ Harry Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 - 12 ⚽🔥
7️⃣ Pelé 🇧🇷 - 12 ⚽

Match Statistics
Attempts at Goal: England 17 | DR Congo 8
Attempts on Target: England 8 | DR Congo 3
Shots: England 17 | DR Congo 8
Scorers: Harry Kane (75', 86') | Brian Cipenga (7')
Assisted by: To be confirmed
Fouls: England 10 | DR Congo 14
Yellow Cards: England 1 | DR Congo 2
Red Cards: None
Corners: England 7 | DR Congo 3

FIFA World Cup Appearances:
England – 17 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) | DR Congo – 2 (1974, 2026)

Country Size:
England – 130,279 km² | DR Congo – 2,344,858 km²

Population:
England – about 57 million | DR Congo – about 112 million

Star Players:
England: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice
DR Congo: Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa, Brian Cipenga

~ KV NEWS

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