England have booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over DR Congo in a fiercely contested knockout match. Despite coming under early pressure from the Congolese side, the Three Lions remained composed, fought back, and kept their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.
Captain Harry Kane was England's hero, scoring both goals to seal the victory. The brace took Kane's FIFA World Cup tally to 12 goals, surpassing Brazilian legend Pelé and further cementing his place among the tournament's all-time leading goalscorers.
Although eliminated, DR Congo delivered an impressive performance and pushed England throughout the full 90 minutes. They battled with great determination and proved they deserved to reach the knockout stage, earning the respect and admiration of football fans around the world.
The victory keeps England's World Cup campaign alive, with Harry Kane continuing to lead the attack as the team's key figure. Attention now turns to the Round of 16, where the Three Lions will be aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
As for DR Congo, their World Cup journey comes to an end, but they leave with their heads held high after producing one of the finest campaigns in the nation's FIFA World Cup history and demonstrating remarkable resilience on the global stage.
