DR Congo putting their bodies on the line! Chance for Harry Kane in the box is blocked, and then Marcus Rashford's gets an opportunity but DR Congo deny him too as Aaron Wan-Bissaka clears it on the goalline. England are inching towards an equaliser, but DR Congo are holding fort.

35' ENG 0-1 COD

Brilliant cross from the right flank, Jude Bellingham slams a bullet header towards goal, but he's denied by DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau. Bellingham getting more involved than Harry Kane on the end of chances.

31' ENG 0-1 COD

England right-back Djed Spence drives up the right wing, dribbling past multiple defenders before being fouled by DR Congo midfielder Noah Sadiki. It's a clear foul, and Sadiki has been shown the yellow card. Free-kick for England on the right flank.

Declan Rice whips in the set piece, it hits defender Ezri Konsa in the box and goes just wide of goal! Konsa was totally unaware where the ball was, but it so nearly went in.

28' ENG 0-1 COD

Time for the hydration break. England have been second-best so far. Thomas Tuchel's side need to regroup and get their act together, because DR Congo have caught them by total surprise in the first 20-odd minutes. Not only has Brian Cipenga given DR Congo the lead, but DR Congo have also outdone England for desire, pressing and work-rate.

25' ENG 0-1 COD

DR Congo continue to threaten England, pressing relentless as England try to pass out of their own box. Yoanne Wissa nearly wins the ball back, before DR Congo's defence eventually get the ball. Jude Bellingham then slides in, trying to dispossess DR Congo, but ends up committing a foul. Yellow card shown to England's No. 10.

19' ENG 0-1 COD

England gaining momentum while DR Congo settle into a mid to low block. Marcus Rashford swings in a good cross into the box where Jude Bellingham had made a run. DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau judges the cross perfectly and comes out to collect it.

17' ENG 0-1 COD

GOOOAAAALLLLL! DR Congo take the lead against England! A cross in from the right flank goes beyond the English defence, left-winger Brian Cipenga arrives into the box on the left, and slams in a powerful low shot that beats Jordan Pickford and goes in! It's Cipenga's very first international goal. What a dramatic start!

7' ENG 0-1 COD

WE ARE LIVE! The match is underway at Atlanta Stadium. England early on the attack, with Declan Rice making a forward run into the box. DR Congo manage to prevent the danger.

1' ENG 0-0 COD

The national anthems have been sung, and now it's time for live action. As David Guetta and Sia's 'Titanium' song rings around the Atlanta Stadium, the players get ready for football. Grab your popcorn, get seated. It's time for FIFA World Cup action!

We are just about 10 minutes away from kick off at the Atlanta Stadium in the match between England and DR Congo. The players are lining up in the tunnel, and are about to enter the pitch. The stadium is packed. Time for the national anthems, and then live action! Stay tuned.

The winner of today's Round of 32 match between England and DR Congo will face co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16. Mexico qualified to the last 16 yesterday with a convincing 2-0 win over Ecuador, and they wait today's winner in what would be another massive game at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca. 

Harry Kane may be the top-scorer in world football in the 2025-26 season, but it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Jude Bellingham has been England's best player so far at FIFA World Cup 2026. Bellingham scored the winning goal in both of England's group stage wins, against Croatia and Panama, and has arguably been the best midfielder of the tournament so far.

Harry Kane started his FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a brace against Croatia in England's first game. But since then, he has managed just one more goal in England's two other group matches. As a result, Kane is now three goals behind Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot charts.

A hattrick today will not only make him England's top-scorer in the World Cup knockout history, but also tie him with Mbappe and Messi in this edition's Golden Boot race.

DR Congo have already achieved a historic resulting during FIFA World Cup 2026, holding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a 0-0 draw to win their first-ever point in the tournament. On that day, DR Congo had gone with a five-man defence. Today, they're going to start with a four-man backline, looking to stop the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.

DR Congo XI vs England: Here's DR Congo's starting XI for the Round of 32 clash against England. A number of stars in the team with Premier League experience, such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, captain Chancel Mbemba, midfielder Noah Sadiki and star forward Yoanne Wissa. Indian-origin midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy also starts.

La Compo

Angleterre
Atlanta Stadium - Atlanta
Coup d'envoi : 17H00 (Kinshasa)

Mpasi
Wan Bissaka - Tuanzebe - Mbemba (C) - Masuaku
Mukau - Moutoussamy - Sadiki
Mbuku - Wissa - Cipenga

Tous derriere nos Léopards ! #AllezLesLéopards pic.twitter.com/ZLimtAX5o2

— Fecofa RDC_Officiel (@FecofaRdc) July 1, 2026

DR Congo's Round of 32 match against England is their first-ever knockout match at FIFA World Cups. DR Congo qualified for the World Cup only once before (as Zaire in 1974), when they did not qualify to the knockouts. But this time around, they have, after finishing third in a tough Group K.

England captain and star striker Harry Kane is his country's leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cups, but he needs three goals today to become his nation's leading goalscorer in World Cup knockout games. Kane has three in knockouts, one behind 1966 World Cup-winning legend Geoff Hurst, and three behind 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker.

England XI vs DR Congo: A couple of interesting calls by Thomas Tuchel, as England announce their starting XI to take on DR Congo. Declan Rice is back in midfield, but also a shock as Bukayo Saka is on the bench! Noni Madueke replaces Saka on the right-wing. Djed Spence starts at right-back, a position where England are suffering an injury crisis. 

Our team news for DR Congo! pic.twitter.com/eNjGs5VjeD

— England (@England) July 1, 2026

Hello and welcome to NDTV Sports, for the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between England and DR Congo. We are at the Atlanta Stadium today, for a highly-awaited contest. Stay tuned for all the live updates!