60 years have now come and gone since England last won the World Cup, but the Three Lions entered this 2026 tournament with hope. All margin for error is gone now that the knockout stages have begun, and England’s route through the tournament — which potentially includes Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and France — is daunting. It’ll begin with a 12 p.m. ET clash against DR Congo.
The winner will go on to face Mexico, who beat Ecuador on Tuesday. It wouldn’t be an easy matchup for either team, as El Tri have looked fantastic so far this tournament and will be at high-altitude Estadio Azteca.
Throughout the World Cup, DraftKings Network will be highlighting several of the tournament’s marquee matchups, breaking down every goal and major moment. Here’s how the showdown between England and the Leopards played out:
England vs. DR Congo odds
The Three Lions are -340 favorites to triumph in regular time (-1000 to advance to the Round of 16) at DraftKings Sportsbook, and DR Congo is +1300 (+600 to advance). There are +400 odds that the game will be determined in extra time.
Tracking England vs. DR Congo
Follow along as DKNetwork tracks the Round of 32 match between England and DR Congo! This section will be updated.
FT: WHAT A TREMENDOUS EFFORT FROM THE LEOPARDS, BUT HARRY KANE IS SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE. THE OUTCOME LONG LOOKED IN DOUBT, BUT IT WILL INDEED BE MEXICO AND ENGLAND AT THE ESTADIO AZTECA.
90’+7: YOANE WISSA, OVER THE BAR.
90’+6: Yoane Wissa has won a free kick just outside the penalty area! This could be it for DR Congo!
90’+2: Declan Rice’s night is now done, as he’s been replaced with DR Congo standing over a free kick. The free kick turned into a poor cross by Chancel Mbemba that ended up out of play. Not good enough for the Leopards.
89′: Arthur Masuaka and Yoane Wissa are now done for the night, as Fiston Mayele takes Wissa’s place in the center of the attack and Joris Kayembe takes over in the defense.
86′: OH MY, HARRY KANE, TAKE A BOW! WHAT A ROCKET INTO THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE NET, PAST LIONEL MPASI’S GLOVE, AND ENGLAND NOW LEADS 2-1! CONGOLESE HEARTS ARE BROKEN! HARRY KANE WITH ARGUABLY THE BEST STRIKE OF THE TOURNAMENT. A TURN AND STRIKE THROUGH TRAFFIC INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET!
85′: There was a shot on target there for DR Congo, but it was a pretty weak one, and it didn’t give Pickford much trouble. That was Elia.
82′: Good defending there from Ezri Konsa to hold off Yoane Wissa, who was all alone with Konsa in the center of the pitch. Konsa headed it back to Jordan Pickford, snuffing out what could’ve been a decent chance.
79′: Elliott Anderson went for it from the outside of the box, targeting the top right corner of the net, and it didn’t turn into anything! 10 more minutes and change for either of these teams to find a winner!
75′: THERE GOES THAT MAN AGAIN! HARRY KANE WITH A HEADER FROM SHORT RANGE, AND THIS TIME LIONEL MPASI CAN’T KEEP IT OUT! IT’S HEARTBREAK FOR DR CONGO, WHICH WAS SO CLOSE TO HOLDING ON FOR A FAMOUS UPSET! AN EXCELLENT CROSS FROM ANTHONY GORDON, AND A SIMPLE HEADER BY KANE! ENGLAND 1, DR CONGO 1. GAME. ON.
67′: Since putting on Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon, England has kept up relatively consistent pressure on DR Congo’s goal, but the Leopards are always there for a block whenever the situation calls for it. 24 minutes remain for the Three Lions to find a goal, and this will surely be a heartbreaker regardless of which team loses.
64′: That’ll do it for Mbuku’s night; he’s been substituted off for Meschak Elia.
63′: The first good chance this half for DR Congo! Nathanaël Mbuku fired a left-footed strike from just outside the box on the right, and it was deflected out for another corner!
61′: Now, Thomas Tuchel will make two changes. Marcus Rashford has come off for Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon has come on for Noni Madueke. The Three Lions have 30 minutes to find an equalizer!
58′: After a few minutes of consistent pressure, DR Congo finally gets a chance to breathe, as Marcus Rashford sent a cross over the bar for a goal kick. Some changes are likely coming soon from both managers.
53′: ANOTHER GREAT SAVE BY LIONEL MPASI NEAR THE NEAR POST, AND ENGLAND IS STILL SCORELESS!
52′: Pretty solid opportunity there, but Marcus Rashford sent it into the side netting.
50′: Great clearance by DR Congo to send it over the line and keep the score level after a corner, but the Three Lions are starting off the second half with the aggression they need to show.
46′: We’re back! England has never won a knockout match after trailing at halftime. Is today the day?
HT: 45 minutes down, 45 minutes to go. England has been the better side, especially after the hydration break, but Lionel Mpasi and Brian Cipenga have the Leopards in the lead! The Three Lions have managed 1.31 expected goals’ worth of chances from eight shots (four on goal), and DR Congo has produced 0.69 expected goals from three shots (one on target). What an incredible first half of action, especially for the Central Africans, who can taste the upset now! The updated odds: England -210 to advance, DR Congo +160.
45’+6: AND ANOTHER INCREDIBLE SAVE BY LIONEL MPASI ON HARRY KANE’S RIGHT-FOOTED STRIKE TOWARDS THE NEAR POST! DECLAN RICE’S CORNER TURNED INTO NOTHING!
45’+2: What a great save by Lionel Mpasi on a header by Jude Bellingham! At this point, England should really be leading!
44′: THE CALL STANDS. NO PENALTY. THAT COULD’VE BEEN A MASSIVE SHIFT IN FAVOR OF THE THREE LIONS, BUT FOR NOW, THE LEOPARDS STILL HOLD THE LEAD.
43′: AND NOW HARRY KANE HAS GONE DOWN IN THE BOX AFTER A CHALLENGE FROM LIONEL MPASI! THE REFEREE HAS CALLED IT A FOUL ON HARRY KANE FOR SIMULATION! THE VAR WILL CHECK.
42′: YOANE WISSA JUST MISSED A SITTER THAT WOULD’VE PUT DR CONGO UP 2-0! INCREDIBLE PASS BY AARON WAN-BISSAKA FOUND YOANE WISSA ABOUT THREE FEET AWAY FROM GOAL, AND HE PUT IT OFF THE RIGHT POST! A MASSIVE MISTAKE FOR THE NEWCASTLE MAN!
40′: Possession has been all England over the past 10 minutes or so, as Thomas Tuchel’s men have definitely looked better since the hydration break, but still, no sign of a breakthrough!
35′: SOME INCREDIBLE DEFENDING THERE BY DR CONGO! AARON WAN-BISSAKA CLEARED IT OFF THE LINE, AND THE LEOPARDS STILL HOLD A LEAD!
32′: Brian Cipenga has no fear! On back-to-back possessions, he went right at Djed Spence, once turning into a cross right at Yoane Wissa that Harry Kane cleared away and one turning into a shot off target. Either way, it’s been a very promising afternoon for the Castellón man, who’s making just his second start of this tournament!
30′: There was the first real chance of the match for England! Jude Bellingham had a great look from the six-yard box with a header after a cross from Declan Rice, but Lionel Mpasi was there to bat it away with his left hand!
27′: Now both teams have one of their best players on a card warning, as Sunderland’s wunderkind Noah Sadiki has earned a yellow card for dragging Djed Spence down along the right sideline. Cards had reset after the group stage, so Sadiki’s second yellow of the tournament won’t suspend him, but he’ll have to be careful not to pick up a second one before the quarterfinals.
26′: We’re now back after the hydration break! Can England turn it around, or will this special afternoon for DR Congo continue? They got off to a decent start after resumption of play, as Noni Madueke recorded the Three Lions’ first touch in the penalty box.
23′: The hydration break has been signaled for, just after Marcus Rashford basically whiffed on a simple pass and allowed it to go out of play! There truly hasn’t been a question as to which team has been better so far; it’s undoubtedly the Central Africans! They’ve won more duels and far more fouls, and of course, they have the 1-0 lead.
19′: Jude Bellingham has now received a yellow card as England’s nightmare start continues! He made a reckless challenge on DR Congo’s Nathanaël Mbuku near the right sideline. The Three Lions have played really poorly so far, and arguably their best player now being in jeopardy certainly won’t help matters.
14′: Welp, there was a shot by Declan Rice, which was immediately blocked beyond the end line. The resulting corner didn’t turn into anything, and 116 million Congolese can breathe a sigh of relief.
13′: 13 minutes into the match, and the Three Lions still haven’t had a shot yet! DR Congo has also dominated possession! It’s obviously early, but this has been a special tournament for African teams and another special moment could be on for the second-most populous African team at the tournament!
7′: A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE LEOPARDS! IT’S THEIR FIRST-EVER WORLD CUP KNOCKOUT GOAL, AND IT COMES ON A DIFFICULT ANGLE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BOX FOR BRIAN CIPENGA! DJED SPENCE LEFT HIM COMPLETELY UNMARKED AFTER AN INCREDIBLE LONG CROSS BY CHANCEL MBEMBA, AND HE BEAT JORDAN PICKFORD TO THE NEAR POST! AS THINGS STAND, DR CONGO WILL FACE MEXICO! ABSOLUTELY SPECIAL STUFF BY THE KINSHASA NATIVE.
2′: The Leopards are showing some aggressiveness early on, as Yoane Wissa had made a run towards the box, but he timed his run a little bit too early and was ruled offsides. No shots yet, but plenty of progressive play for both teams. DR Congo is widely expected to sit back and hope for a low-scoring game, but it’s had some solid distribution so far.
1′: We have action here in Atlanta! England will start with possession in what should be a very competitive match. Can DR Congo pull off an upset against another European side?
Additional World Cup Coverage
For additional World Cup coverage from the DraftKings Network, check out the World Cup landing page here:
- How to Watch Today’s 2026 World Cup Games: TV, Streaming Info and Odds for Wednesday, July 1
- England vs. DR Congo prediction, pick for Wednesday 7/1/26
- World Cup 2026: England vs. DR Congo Lineups, Odds
NOTE: Prop bet rulings are subject to official scoring and could change after the match.