England booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after captain Harry Kane inspired a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s side endured a difficult start when DR Congo took a shock early lead through winger Brian Cipenga, leaving England chasing the game for much of the contest. Despite dominating possession, the Three Lions struggled to break down a disciplined Congolese defence before Kane stepped up when it mattered most.
The England skipper equalized during the closing stages before adding a second goal to complete the turnaround and secure qualification for the knockout rounds. The victory sets up a highly anticipated last-16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
England had entered the match as overwhelming favourites but were stunned inside the opening minutes when Cipenga capitalised on a defensive lapse to put DR Congo ahead. The underdogs defended resolutely and frustrated England throughout the first half, forcing Tuchel’s team to search for answers after the interval.
The introduction of fresh attacking options increased England’s intensity, while Kane once again demonstrated why he remains one of international football’s most reliable forwards. His first goal restored belief among England supporters before his decisive strike completed the comeback and ensured the Three Lions avoided a major World Cup upset.
Following the match, midfielder Declan Rice eased concerns over his fitness after limping off late in the game. Rice explained that the physical demands of playing in high temperatures had taken their toll but insisted he would be ready for England’s next fixture.
The Arsenal midfielder said he felt fine despite experiencing discomfort towards the end of the match, adding that recovery would now become the team’s priority before facing Mexico.
Elsewhere in the World Cup, Belgium produced one of the most remarkable recoveries of the tournament by defeating Senegal 3-2 after extra time.
Senegal appeared destined for victory after Habib Diarra opened the scoring before Ismaila Sarr doubled the advantage early in the second half. Belgium looked on the verge of elimination as the clock ticked down.
However, Romelu Lukaku sparked hope by reducing the deficit late in normal time before Belgium completed an extraordinary revival with an equaliser just minutes later to force extra time.
With penalties looming, Belgium was awarded a dramatic spot kick following a VAR review deep into extra time. Youri Tielemans calmly converted the decisive penalty to seal an unforgettable victory and send Belgium into the next round.
The comeback kept alive Belgium’s hopes of extending their World Cup campaign after appearing certain to join several European heavyweights already eliminated from the competition.
England will now turn their attention to the challenge of facing Mexico, while Belgium advance with renewed confidence after surviving one of the tournament’s most dramatic knockout encounters.
Both victories highlighted the unpredictable nature of the expanded FIFA World Cup, where resilience and composure under pressure have become decisive factors as the race for football’s biggest prize intensifies.
