England will face DR Congo in Atlanta – with a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake. Follow all the action with our live commentary!
FIFA World Cup
Arena: Atlanta Stadium | Referee: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh
Now the players come out on the field, led by today’s Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh. Then follow the national anthems!
Sébastien Desabre has made one change to DR Congo’s team from the match against Uzbekistan. He moves from a typical 5-3-2 to a 4-3-3, with Ngal’ayel Mukau coming in for Cédric Bakambu. Yoane Wissa has scored two goals in nine games against Jordan Pickford in Everton goals. Will he be able to add a fourth goal in this championship?
That’s three changes from England’s 2-0 win over Panama. Thomas Tuchel brings in Djed Spence, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke. Jarell Quansah is injured, while Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka are eliminated. Both Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane are playing their 15th World Cup match – the most of any outfield player for England’s men’s national team. Kane also starts his 90th international match as captain – equalling the record of Bobby Moore and Billy Wright. In addition, Jordan Pickford becomes the fifth European goalkeeper with over 30 appearances in major championships (World Cup/European Championships), after Manuel Neuer (43), Hugo Lloris (35), Gianluigi Buffon (31) and Iker Casillas (31). He is in good company.
DR CONGO’S SUBSTITUTES: Matthieu Epolo, Timothy Fayulu, Dylan Batubinsika, Gédéon Kalulu, Joris Kayembe Ditu, Steve Kapuadi, Aaron Tshibola, Charles Pickel, Edo Kayembe, Cédric Bakambu, Fiston Mayele, Gaël Kakuta, Meschack Elia, Simon Banza, Théo Bongonda.
DR CONGO (4-3-3): Lionel Mpasi – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku – Ngal’ayel Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki – Nathanaël Mbuku, Yoane Wissa, Brian Cipenga.
ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.
ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford – Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly – Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice – Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford – Harry Kane.
Yes, they won the group – but after a convincing win over Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side looked frustrated against Ghana’s defensive wall, and they took over an hour to break down Panama in the final group game. England have yet to show the ability to recover at the 2026 World Cup, but DR Congo – who came back from 1-0 to 3-1 against Uzbekistan – are no pushover. Sébastien Desabre’s team are dreaming of inflicting on Tuchel his first competitive defeat as England boss.
Georgia hosts a nice match today, where group winner England meets DR Congo – who qualified as the best third team. The leopard is in its first World Cup as DR Congo and is not just there to fill up. They are in the knockout stages for the first time ever – after being eliminated in the group stage in 1974 as Zaire. With England as their opponents, DR Congo will draw inspiration from unity, skill and passion – which helped them to a draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. But they are aware that England are starting to find their form after a varying group stage.
Now is the time. After seven exciting quarter-finals, it is England and DR Congo’s turn. Welcome to our live stream from Atlanta!
PRE-MATCH INSIGHTS
- Jordan Pickford is playing his 16th World Cup match.
- Marcus Rashford is playing his 15th World Cup match.
- Harry Kane is playing his 15th World Cup match.
- England have won their last three games when Harry Kane has scored.
MATCH PREVIEW
England will face DR Congo in the last eight at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. England won 2-0 over Panama in the last group game on June 27 – Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored. They are unbeaten in five games in a row.
DR Congo claimed their first win in the championship with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan on June 27 – Yoane Wissa scored twice.
England won the group with seven points, while DR Congo’s four points held for third place.
Kane leads England with three goals. Wissa has scored three times for DR Congo.
England have kept a clean sheet for 220 minutes – since Petar Musa’s goal against Croatia.
In their last six games, England have won four, drawn one and lost one – with ten goals scored and three conceded. DR Congo have won two, drawn two and lost two – with six goals scored and five conceded.
England will take three wins from four World Cup matches and secure a place in the last eight. DR Congo will field several Premier League players – including Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Yoane Wissa.
World Cup 2026: Key figures for England vs. DR Congo
- England are unbeaten in 11 competitive matches under Thomas Tuchel (10 wins) – only Ron Greenwood (16, 1977–1980) and Roy Hodgson (14, 2012–2013) have had longer unbeaten starts as England manager.
- This is the second time England have faced two African teams in the same World Cup – in 1990 they beat Egypt 1-0 in the group stage and Cameroon 3-2 in the quarter-finals.
- Harry Kane can equal Geoff Hurst (4) for the most World Cup knockout goals for England – only Gary Lineker (6) has more.
- The European Golden Boot winner scored three goals in the group stage to become England’s all-time top scorer.
- Elliot Anderson leads all England players in line-breaking passes (30), balls won (20) and duels won (24) at this World Cup.
- DR Congo had 38.5 percent possession in the group stage – England were in third place with 65.3 percent.
- Yoane Wissa has scored three of DR Congo’s four goals in the tournament – the same number he scored in the entire 2025/26 season for Newcastle.
- Wissa scored one goal per 301 minutes for Newcastle – but one per 90 minutes in the World Cup.
- This is the 11th time an African team has faced a previous winner in a World Cup knockout match. Morocco are the only African team to have progressed – they beat Spain on penalties in the last eight in 2022.
