England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo meet on July 1, 2026, in a FIFA World Cup round-of-32 knockout match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is set for noon local time, 4:00 PM GMT, and the stakes are simple: win or go home.
England arrives as the clear favorite, having topped Group L to reach the knockout stage. DR Congo, nicknamed the Leopards, got here the harder way, advancing from Group K as one of the best third-placed teams, including a draw against Portugal.
The numbers say England, but football rarely reads the script
Opta’s models put England’s win probability somewhere between 74% and 82%. DR Congo’s chances sit in the 11.3% to 18.2% range, depending on the model.
Thomas Tuchel’s side enters the match with a defensive injury concern. Reece James and Jarell Quansah are both unavailable, leaving England’s backline looking patchwork at precisely the moment the tournament gets serious.
