Thomas Tuchel’s England take on underdogs DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday, wary of another World Cup upset after premature exits for European heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands. The Congolese play in their first World Cup knockout match after qualifying from the group stage as the top-ranking third-placed team. Follow our live, minute-by-minute commentary.
England go into their last-32 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo as overwhelming favourites to progress in their quest for a first World Cup title since 1966. Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures But the Three Lions will be wary of an upset in a tournament that has seen plenty already, against a resilient Congolese team that held European giants Portugal to a draw in the group stage. The teams England: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane. DR Congo: M’Pasi-Nzau, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku, Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku, Wissa, Cipenga. Kick-off in Atlanta is at 12pm local time and 5pm in London and Kinshasa.
