Harry Kane Scores Twice as England Beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta World Cup Round of 32

England beat DR Congo 2-1 in the World Cup round of 32 in Atlanta after Harry Kane scored in the 75th and 86th minutes to complete a late comeback.

“- Published When the first hydration break took place in Wednesday's World Cup last-32 match between England and DR Congo, the customary boos could be heard from the fans”

BBC

Brian Cipenga put DR Congo ahead after seven minutes, and England struggled to break down a defence that was repeatedly threatened by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s saves.

BBC

Thomas Tuchel said, "We kept believing," as he described how England had to keep their mindset when the match became difficult.

Kane then set up the next stage by scoring again after the second hydration break, with ESPN describing how Anthony Gordon collected Declan Rice’s overhit cross and dinked it back across goal for the equaliser and the winner.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the hydration breaks are also an opportunity for managers to "engage" with players, and HITC quoted him explaining, "These breaks are so important to give players a break during tournament play."

The Independent reported that England fans widely booed the hydration break during the first half at the air-conditioned Atlanta Stadium, with the stoppages drawing criticism as the rain continued.

BioBioChile

TNT Sports framed the same match’s momentum shift around the enforced stoppages, quoting Tuchel on the BBC: "After the first water break we had three, four, five big chances."

Kane added on TNT Sports that "After the first hydration break, we upped the level," as he credited the break for England looking good after being behind to Cipenga’s early goal.

England’s victory booked a Round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium, with Ham & High noting the match is early on Monday and will be at altitude.

“Updated Jul 1, 2026 3:31 PM EDT Audio By Carbonatix 60 years have now come and gone since England last won the World Cup, but the Three Lions entered this 2026 tournament with hope”

DraftKings Network

The Independent’s account of the hydration-break controversy placed the boos alongside earlier criticism in England’s previous World Cup games against Croatia, Ghana and Panama, as FIFA mandated two three-minute stoppages in each match.

Rediff said the comeback win exposed defensive vulnerabilities that had already surfaced during the group stage, and it pointed to Mexico as a "far sterner examination" at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium.

DraftKings Network then set the stakes for the next matchup by listing England as -340 favorites to triumph in regular time and -1000 to advance to the Round of 16, with the live updates concluding that the outcome would be Mexico and England at the Estadio Azteca.