England Faces DR Congo in World Cup 2026 Last 32

On July 1, 2026, England played against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in the last 32 of the World Cup 2026. The match kicked off at 12 PM local time, 5 PM BST.

The first notable moment came just seven minutes into the match, when Brian Cipenga scored for DR Congo, putting them ahead 1-0. England struggled to respond in the initial stages of the game, found possession at 56%, but only managed six attempts on goal compared to DR Congo's two.

England's Rashford showed some initiative, attempting to push the game forward, but with little support initially. Despite several chances created by England, including a key moment when Bellingham headed the ball towards the top right corner only for an impressive save by Lionel Mpasi, the English side struggled to convert opportunities into goals.

As the game progressed, the DRC made several strong counterattacks, and Cipenga continued to provide challenges for the English defense. After his early goal, England looked to regain control, but faced difficulties breaking down the DRC’s defensive formations.

Throughout the first half, England tried to increase the pace of their game after a hydration break, showing signs of improvement with several attacking runs, yet the DRC's defensive resilience was evident. They effectively cleared the ball during subsequent corner kicks and free kicks, limiting England's scoring chances.

By halftime, despite England's greater possession and more attempts at goal, they remained behind with a score of 0-1. The teams continued to trade possession and attack, with the strategic goal for England to equalize in the second half.