England 2-1 DR Congo: Harry Kane Late Brace Rescues Three Lions in 2026 World Cup Round of 32
Harry Kane’s Late Brace Fires England Past Resilient DR Congo 2-1
Harry Kane once again stepped up when England needed him most. The captain scored twice in the final 15 minutes to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
England, who topped Group L, now advance to face Mexico in the Round of 16. DR Congo, the best third-placed team from the group stage, exit with plenty of pride after nearly pulling off one of the great World Cup shocks.
The Seventh-Minute Shock
DR Congo stunned the stadium inside seven minutes. Brian Cipenga collected a searching pass from Chancel Mbemba, drifted inside, and drilled a fierce right-footed shot past Jordan Pickford at the near post. The Congolese winger celebrated with a full somersault as the small pocket of traveling fans erupted.
England had started slowly. Passes went astray. The compact DR Congo shape and the strong handling of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made clear chances hard to come by. At halftime the score remained 1-0 and the tension inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium was obvious.
Kane Levels It at 75 Minutes
England came out with more urgency after the break. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute. Anthony Gordon delivered a looping cross from the right. Kane timed his run perfectly, rose above the defense, and powered a header past Mpasi. The net bulged and the roof came off the Atlanta venue.
One goal changed everything. England suddenly looked like the side everyone expected. The equaliser released years of built-up pressure in one explosive moment.
"I saw nothing today from England that tells me they're going to go to Mexico City and win that game."@craigburley reacts to England's performance in their win vs. Congo DR ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/g5UbG8CMm0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 2, 2026
The 86th-Minute Winner Seals It
Eleven minutes later Kane struck again. This time he collected the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a venomous low drive that flew past Mpasi and into the far corner. A rocket of a finish. England led 2-1 and the comeback was complete.
DR Congo threw everything forward in the closing stages but could not find a second equaliser. When the final whistle blew, England players dropped to their knees in relief while the DR Congo side walked off with heads high after a performance that will live long in their memories.
Why England Struggled Early and How They Fixed It
DR Congo’s game plan was clear and effective for long spells: stay compact, frustrate England’s midfield, and hit on the counter. Cipenga’s early goal gave them the perfect platform. Mpasi’s shot-stopping kept them in front at the break.
England’s improvement came from increased tempo and better use of width. Once Gordon began stretching the defense and Kane started dropping deeper to link play, the spaces opened. The two late goals were no fluke. They were the product of sustained pressure finally telling.
- 7th minute: Brian Cipenga opens the scoring for DR Congo
- 75th minute: Harry Kane heads England level
- 86th minute: Kane fires the winner from the edge of the box
What Comes Next
England will face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Monday. The task does not get easier, but the character shown in Atlanta will give the squad confidence. Kane now carries even more goals into the knockout stages and continues to write his name into England’s World Cup history.
DR Congo can hold their heads high. They arrived as underdogs, took the lead against one of the tournament favorites, and only lost to a world-class striker at the peak of his powers.
