01/07/2026 19:51 - Deportes
England faced one of their most terrifying World Cup moments before captain Harry Kane delivered a stunning late brace to secure a 2-1 victory over DR Congo at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bayern Munich striker struck in the 75th and 86th minutes, erasing what would have been one of the greatest upsets in tournament history.
For international readers: The World Cup Round of 32 (also called the Round of 16 finals) is the first knockout stage where losing teams are immediately eliminated. England, a traditional powerhouse that won its only World Cup in 1966 on home soil, entered this tournament as serious contenders for the title.
| Team | Scorer | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | B. Cipenga | 7' |
| England | Harry Kane | 75' |
| England | Harry Kane | 86' |
Assists: C. Mbemba (Congo); Anthony Gordon x2 (England)
DR Congo stunned everyone when Brian Cipenga scored just 7 minutes into the match, exposing England's defensive vulnerability at left-back. With Reece James and Tino Livramento injured, Djed Spence filled in uncomfortably, and the Leopards capitalized.
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi (who plays for Le Havre in France's Ligue 1) delivered a phenomenal performance, making spectacular saves against Jude Bellingham and Kane repeatedly. For 74 minutes, the underdogs held firm.
DR Congo had not qualified for a World Cup in 52 years. Their last appearance was as "Zaire" in 1974 (West Germany), where they lost all three matches without scoring. In this tournament, the Leopards achieved their first-ever World Cup win and nearly eliminated a team with England's pedigree. This context explains the magnitude of their performance.
Manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to bring on Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka in the 61st minute proved inspired. Gordon, who recently joined FC Barcelona, provided two crucial assists for Kane's goals. His first cross found Kane's head in the 75th minute; his second setup allowed Kane to fire home the winner.
Gordon's pace and crossing precision made the difference against a Congolese defense that had been impenetrable. His performance justified the intense European transfer battle for his signature.
England's reward for surviving this scare? A Round of 16 clash against Mexico at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. For those unfamiliar: the Azteca sits at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) altitude, making breathing difficult for visitors unused to thin air. It's one of football's most intimidating venues, seating 87,000 passionate fans.
Mexico enters with four consecutive wins in this tournament and eliminated Ecuador in the Round of 32. England seeks its first World Cup title in 60 years—will altitude and hostile crowds stop them?
England: Pickford; Spence (70' Eze), Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice (90+1' Bellingham), Henderson; Saka (61'), Bellingham, Madueke (61' Gordon); Kane (c).
DR Congo: Mpasi; Bongonda (76' Kayembe), Mbemba, Masuaku (89' Moutoussamy), Sadiki; Cipenga (89' Mayele), Mukau, Wissa; Elia (64' Mbuku).
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Alfredo S. Quiroga
