England faces DR Congo in World Cup round of 32 as African side makes history

The 2026 FIFA World Cup just produced one of its best Cinderella stories. DR Congo, a team that hadn’t won a World Cup match in over 50 years, will now face England in the Round of 32 after clawing their way through one of the tournament’s toughest groups.

The match is set for July 1, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

How DR Congo got here

DR Congo were drawn into Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. Their campaign started with a 1-1 draw against Portugal on June 17. The defining moment came on June 27, when DR Congo faced Uzbekistan in what amounted to a must-win match. They delivered a 3-1 comeback victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the same venue where they’ll now face England.

That result was enough to secure their spot as one of the best third-placed teams across all groups. The expanded 48-team format for 2026 allows the top third-place finishers to advance, a structural change that has given teams like DR Congo a genuine pathway into the knockout rounds.

The country, which competed under the name Zaire in 1974, has been largely absent from football’s biggest stage since. This isn’t just a good tournament run. It’s a generational achievement.

England’s path and Tuchel’s setup

England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss, navigated their group and enter the Round of 32 as heavy favorites against DR Congo.

What this means for the tournament

The venue adds another layer. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta has a capacity of over 70,000 and has already hosted DR Congo’s group-stage matches. The Congolese squad will have a degree of familiarity with the pitch and surroundings that could matter at the margins.

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