Harry Kane walked off England’s final group game carrying 11 World Cup goals — the most any England player has ever scored at the tournament. On July 1, he leads the side against DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kickoff at noon Eastern time.

England finished top of Group L under Thomas Tuchel, winning two and drawing one across their group matches. They beat Croatia and Panama before settling for a draw with Ghana. In 11 competitive fixtures under Tuchel, England have not lost — ten wins and a draw. That run has built confidence heading into the knockout rounds.

DR Congo’s Route to the Last 32

DR Congo came through as one of eight best third-placed teams from the expanded 48-team format. Their journey through Group K was uneven. They drew with Portugal, lost to Colombia, then beat Uzbekistan to finish third with four points. Manager Sergej Barbarez has built a side that defends deep and looks for pace in transition.

The real danger comes from Yoane Wissa. The forward has scored three of Congo’s four goals at this World Cup — 75% of their output — at a rate of one goal every 90 minutes. An injury-marred season at Newcastle United in the club calendar did not slow him down in the group stage.

DR Congo have no injury concerns heading into the game. For England, Jarell Quansah has joined Reece James on the treatment table, and Djed Spence is expected to fill in at right-back.

England’s Form and Tuchel’s Setup

Tuchel has made England hard to beat since taking the job. Ten wins from eleven competitive games is not an accident — it reflects a side that is organised, difficult to break down, and clinical when chances arrive. Kane leads the line with the calm of a player who has been here before.

Opta’s supercomputer ran 25,000 pre-match simulations and gave England a 73.9% chance of winning. DR Congo were projected to win in only 11.3% of scenarios. Knockout football rarely respects probability, but the model reflects the gap in quality between the two sides.

How to Watch and What’s at Stake

The match broadcasts on Fox and streams via Fox One in the United States. A win sends England into the Round of 16 and keeps alive what would be their deepest World Cup run since the 1966 title on home soil.

For DR Congo, a win here would be the greatest result in their football history at a World Cup. They are the underdogs. But Wissa has a habit of turning up when it matters, and Atlanta is a long way from a guarantee for either side.

Kickoff is July 1 at 12:00 PM Eastern at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The match can be watched on Fox and streamed on Fox One.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)

Who is England’s all-time top World Cup scorer?

Harry Kane holds the record with 11 goals at the FIFA World Cup, surpassing the mark he previously set. He extended the tally during England’s 2026 group stage campaign.

References

ESPN. (2026). England vs Congo DR at World Cup 2026: TV channel, how to watch, kick-off time, live stream. Published June 30, 2026.

The Football Association / England Football. (2026). Match Centre: England v DR Congo, FIFA World Cup, Wednesday 1 July 2026. Published June 28, 2026.

The Analyst (Opta). (2026). England vs DR Congo Prediction: World Cup 2026 Match Preview. Published June 30, 2026.