England narrowly avoided a major upset at the 2026 World Cup by rallying to a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in Atlanta on July 1. DR Congo took an early lead through Brian Cipenga, putting England under pressure.

However, England’s captain Harry Kane scored two late goals to secure the comeback win and a place in the tournament’s last 16. The victory sets up a challenging knockout match against cohosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday.

England, coached by Thomas Tuchel and aiming to end a 60-year wait for a major tournament title, faced criticism for squad selection, particularly the lack of specialist right-back cover after DR Congo’s goal came down that flank. Additionally, midfielder Jude Bellingham received a yellow card and had a tense exchange with Tuchel during a mid-half break.

Meanwhile, Mexico advanced to the last 16 by defeating Ecuador 2-0, breaking a 40-year curse in the process.

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