By Ihechi Enyinnaya
England booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coming from behind to defeat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.
The Three Lions looked set for extra time after trailing for much of the second half, but captain Harry Kane produced a stunning late comeback with two goals to keep England’s World Cup hopes alive.
DR Congo frustrated England with a disciplined defensive display and held a deserved 1-0 lead until the 75th minute. However, Anthony Gordon turned provider as he delivered a cross that Kane headed past goalkeeper Dimitry Mpasi to restore parity.
With the match heading towards extra time, Gordon again set up England’s captain in the 86th minute. Kane controlled the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful strike into the top-right corner, leaving Mpasi with no chance and completing England’s comeback.
The victory sends England into the Round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico for a place in the quarterfinals.
Kane’s brace also boosted his tally to five goals in the tournament, strengthening his challenge in the race for the Golden Boot.
Despite a spirited performance, DR Congo’s historic World Cup campaign came to an end after they were unable to withstand England’s late surge. England successfully held on through six minutes of stoppage time to seal a hard-fought victory and progress to the next stage of the tournament.