England vs DR Congo Betting Odds, Lineups, Prediction & Best Bets

England vs DR Congo Match Summary

England meet DR Congo in the Round of 32 at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 — the first-ever meeting between the two nations in senior international soccer.

England arrive as the clear favorites, having won Group L with seven points off the back of a 4-2 win over Croatia and a 2-0 victory over Panama.

DR Congo are here on merit, reaching a World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams out of Group K.

With no shared history between them, the stakes are simple: the winner advances to face Mexico or Ecuador in the Round of 16.

England vs DR Congo Form

England look the part. Under head coach Thomas Tuchel, they are unbeaten in 11 straight competitive matches, scoring six and conceding two across the group stage. Harry Kane leads the line, but the recurring story has been slow starts — this squad keeps finding its rhythm after halftime rather than before it.
DR Congo are peaking at the right time.

After a 1-1 draw with Portugal and a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia, they produced a 3-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan to advance. Forward Yoane Wissa is the man to watch, scoring three of the team's four group-stage goals, including a brace against Uzbekistan.

England vs DR Congo Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

England: R. James (Injured/out), J. Quansah (Injured/doubtful)

DR Congo: None reported

England

Reece James is set to miss out after suffering another hamstring injury earlier in the tournament, while Jarell Quansah is a doubt following a knock he picked up against Panama. Beyond those two, Tuchel has his attacking core available.

DR Congo

The Leopards head into this matchup with no injury concerns reported ahead of the match.

England vs DR Congo Predicted Lineup

England

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: J. Pickford; D. Spence, E. Konsa, M. Guéhi, N. O'Reilly; E. Anderson, D. Rice; B. Saka, J. Bellingham, M. Rashford; H. Kane

DR Congo

Formation: 3-5-2

Predicted Starting Lineup: L. Mpasi; S. Kapuadi, C. Mbemba, A. Tuanzebe; A. Wan-Bissaka, S. Moutoussamy, N. Mukau, N. Sadiki, A. Masuaku; C. Bakambu, Y. Wissa

England vs DR Congo Key Stats & Match Facts

• This is the first-ever meeting between England and DR Congo in senior international soccer.
• England averaged 65.3% possession during the group stage, third-highest among all 48 teams at the tournament.
• Harry Kane's goal in the 2-0 win over Panama took him to 11 goals, making him England's all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals.
• England are unbeaten in 11 consecutive competitive matches under Thomas Tuchel.
• DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made five saves inside the opening 20 minutes against Colombia before conceding a deflected goal in the 76th minute.

England vs DR Congo Talking Points

The story here is whether DR Congo can frustrate a possession-heavy England side that keeps starting slow. The Leopards are built to make this awkward — captain Chancel Mbemba anchors a backline stacked with Premier League and European experience in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, and they have the legs to spring Yoane Wissa on the break. England, meanwhile, have a self-inflicted question at the back.

Reece James is out with a hamstring problem and Jarell Quansah is a doubt after limping off against Panama, forcing more rotation in a defense that has already been reshuffled. The man who could tilt it is Elliot Anderson, who has emerged as Tuchel's tempo-setter, leading the squad in line-breaking passes and duels won. If England can avoid another sluggish opening 45, their quality should tell. If not, DR Congo are exactly the kind of opponent who can make them pay.

England vs DR Congo Predictions FAQs

When is the England vs DR Congo World Cup 2026 game?

The England vs DR Congo World Cup 2026 match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Where is England vs DR Congo being played?

The match between England and DR Congo will be played at one of the official host venues for the World Cup 2026 tournament.

What is the England vs DR Congo prediction?

England is expected to control possession and secure a victory, though DR Congo will aim to frustrate them with a compact defensive setup.

Where can I watch England vs DR Congo?

The World Cup 2026 match between England and DR Congo will be broadcast live on official tournament rights holders' channels and streaming platforms.

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