England 2-1 Congo DR: Kane sends England through

England came from behind to defeat Congo DR 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Wednesday, with Harry Kane turning the tie around through goals in the 75th and 86th minutes after Brian Cipenga’s 7th-minute opener had put Congo DR in front.

At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, England spent long stretches controlling the ball but found themselves chasing the fixture almost immediately. Congo DR struck in the 7th minute when Brian Cipenga finished a sharp early move to stun Gareth Southgate’s side and hand the underdogs an ideal start.

That early setback changed the rhythm of the contest. England had nearly 60 percent of the possession and finished with 16 shots to Congo DR’s seven, but the first half was marked by frustration as the African side stayed compact, denied central spaces and forced England to circulate the ball patiently rather than cut through the defensive block. Jude Bellingham’s yellow card in the 19th minute underlined England’s irritation, while Noah Sadiki was booked for Congo DR in the 28th.

Congo DR’s defensive organization and willingness to break forward selectively kept England uneasy through the opening hour. With only two shots on target allowed for much of the match, they looked increasingly capable of protecting the 1-0 lead. England, however, kept probing from wide areas and gradually increased the pressure as the second half wore on.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute, and it came from the man England most often rely on. Harry Kane rose to score with a header, making it 1-1 and shifting the momentum decisively. From there, England looked sharper, more urgent and more direct in the final third as Congo DR were pushed deeper and deeper.

Kane then delivered the decisive moment in the 86th minute. The England captain found the net again to complete the comeback, sealing a 2-1 victory and underlining once more why he remains the focal point of England’s attack. The brace also carried extra significance in the broader tournament conversation, with Kane continuing to climb among the World Cup’s great goalscorers and matching Pelé’s career tally in the competition.

For Congo DR, this was a defeat that will still earn admiration. They led for more than an hour, defended with discipline and made England work for every opening. But once the equalizer arrived, the balance of the match shifted too heavily to hold back one of the tournament favorites.

Key performers

Kane was the obvious standout, not only for scoring in the 75th and 86th minutes but for the timing of both contributions. His first goal restored belief; his second settled the fixture. England also benefited from sustained territorial pressure, creating 14 shot assists and forcing the issue until the resistance finally gave way.

For Congo DR, Cipenga’s 7th-minute goal gave his side a dream beginning and nearly set up one of the round’s biggest surprises. Their back line and midfield unit also deserve credit for keeping shape for so long against a team that dominated possession.

NerdSports Stat: England generated 16 shots to Congo DR’s 7 and 7 efforts on target to 2, but both of Kane’s goals came in the final 15 minutes, meaning 100% of England’s scoring arrived after Congo DR had protected their lead for 68 minutes.

England’s reward is progression to the quarterfinal stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout bracket, and the manner of the comeback may matter almost as much as the result itself. Southgate’s side advanced, but the slow start and the difficulty they had breaking down Congo DR will still offer points for reflection before the next fixture. Congo DR exit the tournament with credit after pushing England all the way and showing they belonged on this stage.

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