England gets the kind of Round of 32 matchup that creates public comfort and private nerves. DR Congo is a massive underdog by the board, but this tournament has already given them one feverish comeback and one new national memory. England brings the squad depth, the tournament pedigree, and the cleaner tactical floor. DR Congo brings belief, runners, pressure-free violence, and the dangerous freedom of a team already playing with house money.
Here are the opening betting odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook for England vs. DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
Opening odds for England vs. DR Congo on DraftKings Sportsbook
England opened as a heavy favorite to advance at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Three Lions are -1100 to reach the Round of 16, while DR Congo is +600 to continue its historic run. The 90-minute moneyline is only slightly more forgiving: England sits at -370, the draw is +475, and DR Congo is +1200. That gives England roughly a 92% implied chance to advance before removing vig, while the regulation price still leaves space for a match that takes longer to unlock.
England earned this draw by winning Group L with seven points. Thomas Tuchel’s side secured top spot with a 2-0 win over Panama, while Croatia finished second and Ghana moved through as a third-place qualifier. England also had its knockout place confirmed before the group finale, then used the Panama win to remove bracket ambiguity and claim the cleaner route.
That is the grown-up version of England. The slightly more haunted version is the team that still invites scrutiny whenever a favorite’s price outruns its fluency. This group has enough attacking luxury to make the goalscorer board look absurd. Harry Kane is -150 to score anytime, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are both -125, Bukayo Saka is +200, Marcus Rashford is +200, Anthony Gordon is +205, and Jude Bellingham is +205. The book is pricing England like a team with too many ways to arrive at the same door.
DR Congo’s road is thinner, louder, and more cinematic. They finished third in Group K behind Colombia and Portugal, then reached the knockouts after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta. Yoane Wissa scored twice, Fiston Mayele added the go-ahead goal, and DR Congo turned a halftime deficit into the country’s first World Cup win. Reuters noted it was also their first knockout berth after returning to the tournament 52 years after their 1974 appearance as Zaire.
The Group K details give the underdog more texture than the price suggests. DR Congo drew Portugal 1-1, lost 1-0 to Colombia, then beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to finish with four points and a +1 goal differential. AS listed them as the top-performing third-place team, which matters for how this matchup should be framed. This is not a happy-to-be-here minnow walking into a ceremonial beating. It is a third-place qualifier with enough recent evidence to make England earn control.
The total is set at 2.5 goals, with the over -115 and the under -110. That number gives England credit for pressure, possession, and finishing depth without fully pricing a rout. The total also captures the central tension of this match. England can win 3-0 if the first goal comes early. DR Congo can make this deeply uncomfortable if the match reaches halftime scoreless and the favorite starts hearing the clock.
Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, at 12 p.m. ET in Atlanta. England Football lists the match for 5 p.m. BST, while AS lists the U.S. kickoff at noon ET. The early lean is England to advance, but the better betting conversation is the total.
Best early lean: Under 2.5 goals (-110). Projected score: England 2, DR Congo 0.
More World Cup Coverage
For additional World Cup coverage from the DraftKings Network, check out the World Cup landing page.
