Kane to the rescue with late double as England edge past DR Congo into last 16
Quick summary
Harry Kane scored twice late in the match to help England narrowly beat DR Congo and advance to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThomas Tuchel’s mission to put a second World Cup star on the England shirt did not look as though it would reach the second knockout round. On a fraught and chaotic occasion in Atlanta, his team flirted aggressively with disaster. For 75 minutes, England mixed loose defending with an inability to take their chances. Which were plentiful. The Democratic Republic of the Congo goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, had the game of his life. Who needs Lionel Messi.
It was easy for England’s long-suffering fans to feel their minds being taken to dark places. Iceland 2016, anyone? They had only ever lost once to an African team – to Senegal in a friendly in June of last year. The DRC, who have brought the romance to this tournament, a team to unite a war-torn nation, led through Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute goal. They were primed to do something utterly extraordinary.
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What happened
England overcame a stubborn DR Congo side in the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with captain Harry Kane delivering a decisive late double to secure progression. The match appeared tight heading into the closing stages before the England striker intervened to tilt the tie in favour of the Three Lions. The result sends England into the knockout round and keeps their World Cup campaign alive, while DR Congo's tournament comes to an end.
Chance analysis
Kane's clutch performance reinforces his role as England's primary goal threat in knockout football and provides momentum heading into a tougher last-16 matchup. The narrow nature of the result suggests England still have questions to answer in attack and defence, but escaping a tricky tie keeps their title ambitions intact. For prediction models, England advance but with less dominance than expected, while DR Congo exits with a respectable showing.
England progress to the World Cup last 16 with confidence in Kane's ability to deliver in crucial moments, while DR Congo are eliminated.
England advance to the World Cup last 16 but showed vulnerability; Kane remains the key differentiator in tight matches.