England vs – England will face DR Congo in the World Cup Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday after topping Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama. DR Congo edged Uzbekistan to finish third in Group K, setting up a matchup England will start as favourites.
England will take on DR Congo for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup in Atlanta on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm.
The matchup was set after England finished first in Group L. sealing top spot with a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday. They had to wait for their last-32 opponent, knowing they would face a side that finished third in another group. The picture was not fully clear until DR Congo concluded their own group business.
England’s path shifted late after DR Congo delivered a second-half comeback against Uzbekistan to clinch third place in Group K. While England had earlier been on track to face Senegal had the Central African nation lost to or drawn with Uzbekistan. the result flipped the bracket. DR Congo ultimately won 3-1.
England’s Round of 32 opponents will arrive on the back of a dramatic swing in the knockout picture: the comeback featured a Yoane Wissa penalty that helped drag DR Congo back into the contest before they pulled away. Colombia and Portugal finished above them in Group K, leaving DR Congo to claim the third-place slot.
At the tournament, England are 42 places ahead of DR Congo in the FIFA world rankings, sitting at No4, and they are set to start as favourites. They have also avoided Senegal, who will now play Belgium in the other last-32 tie connected to Group K’s third-place finisher.
England and DR Congo carry history into the clash. In a friendly in Nottingham last June, England were beaten 3-1, with Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr among the goalscorers. Sarr has continued his scoring form on the World Cup stage, with three goals already at this tournament.
That friendly result still lingers for England. After the defeat at the City Ground, England forward Harry Kane said: “We got punished. We were playing against a good side.”
Senegal’s tournament has been defined by missed chances and sharp swings. The country — known as the Lions of Teranga — won the Africa Cup of Nations in January but were stripped of the title after leaving the field in protest at a penalty decision in the final against Morocco. In the World Cup, they have not looked settled. Senegal lost 3-1 to France in their opener after failing to capitalise on a strong first-half showing. then fell 3-2 to Norway. Their 5-0 drubbing of Iraq secured third spot.
DR Congo, by contrast, have made a statement in the tournament’s early rounds in the same Stateside spotlight that will now come to England. They held Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a draw in their opening match before narrowly losing to Colombia.
If England get through Wednesday, the last-16 opponent will come from the winner of the Mexico and Ecuador tie. The likely quarter-final picture could include either Brazil, who will play Japan in their Round of 32 match, or Erling Haaland’s Norway.
With the bracket taking shape. the stakes only grow: if the favourites continue to progress. England could face Argentina in the semi-finals. France are set up as potential opponents in the final on July 19. completing a route that starts in Atlanta against a DR Congo side that has already shown it can turn games.
The deciding factor for England is simple: they topped Group L, but DR Congo earned their knockout place with resilience and a late twist against Uzbekistan — the kind of momentum that rarely waits for favourites to catch up.
England vs DR Congo World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Group L Group K Panama Uzbekistan Yoane Wissa Ismaila Sarr Harry Kane Atlanta 5pm