Harry Kane Scores Twice as England Come Back to Beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta

Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and advance to a 2026 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico at Estadio Azteca.

“Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late goals to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and secure a place in the last 16”

Al Jazeera

DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba sent a long diagonal pass that left Brian Cipenga alone on the far side, and Cipenga drilled the ball inside Jordan Pickford’s near post for his seventh-minute goal.

Al Jazeera

The match swung when substitute Anthony Gordon created both of Kane’s goals, with Kane’s first header coming 15 minutes from time and his second finish coming in the 86th minute.

Al Jazeera described the comeback as “Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late goals,” and it said the Three Lions secured “a place in the last 16” after Cipenga’s early opener.

After the win, England’s next task is facing Mexico at Estadio Azteca, with Al Jazeera noting it is “on Sunday” in the last-16 stage.

Thomas Tuchel’s England survived a major scare in Atlanta as they were pushed by DR Congo after Cipenga’s shock opener, and the BBC’s framing of the match centered on Kane’s late double to keep England alive in the knockout stage.

In Atlanta, Al Jazeera said the “nearly 70,000 crowd” in England red and white were “silenced” after Cipenga’s early lead, while it also described Jude Bellingham being shown a yellow card for a lunge.

BBC

Al Jazeera reported that Tuchel told reporters that his side had “kept believing” to secure a deserved victory, and it added that Kane praised DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi as “incredible.”

The Guardian’s account emphasized the chaos around England’s early defending and said the DRC goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi “had the game of his life,” before Kane’s two goals “shatter the DRC.”

The Guardian also described a controversy when Kane was cleaned out by Mpasi and said the referee, Adham Makhadmeh, “decided that the England captain had played too readily for the contact,” with “There was no VAR intervention.”

With England’s last-16 place secured, the World Cup bracket now includes Mexico vs. England on Sunday, July 5, and FOX Sports listed the kickoff at Mexico City Stadium for 8 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup's Round of 32 is here, and Atlanta is right in the middle of the action as England takes on DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday”

CBS News

FOX Sports also laid out the betting market as of July 1, listing Moneyline odds of England +130 and Mexico +240, and it set the Draw at +210.

The Guardian’s match report tied England’s next opponent to the venue, saying England will play Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, while Al Jazeera said the last-16 match is “on Sunday” as England prepare to improve after the scare.

MARCA’s tournament schedule placed Canada vs. Morocco on Saturday, July 4 at 19:00h in RG Stadium de Houston, and it listed Paraguay vs. France on Saturday, July 4 at 23:00h in Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field).

MARCA’s bracket also showed that Brazil vs. Norway is scheduled for Sunday, July 5 at 22:00h in Nueva York / Nueva Jersey (MetLife Stadium), and it listed the England-Mexico clash as part of the same round of 16 slate.