Harry Kane saved England from one of the most embarrassing exits in their World Cup history, scoring twice in the second half to overturn a 1-0 deficit and beat DR Congo 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium. The Three Lions were stunned by a seventh-minute Brian Cipenga goal and spent an entire first half unable to breach one of the tournament's finest goalkeepers — Lionel Mpasi. Kane settled it with a header in the 75th minute and a stunning right-footed strike in the 86th, his 12th and 13th goals at World Cups — moving him above Pele on the all-time list. England face Mexico in the Round of 16 at the Azteca. Today is July 1, 2026.
THE SHOCK
DR Congo, appearing in their first-ever World Cup knockout match, announced themselves inside seven minutes. Captain Chancel Mbemba played a quarterback-style diagonal switch across the field that split England's defensive shape entirely. Winger Brian Cipenga — left completely unmarked — controlled the ball with composure on the left side of the box and lashed a low strike past Jordan Pickford at the near post. A historic maiden international goal for Cipenga. DR Congo 1-0 England. Atlanta Stadium fell into disbelief.
THE MPASI SHOW
What followed for the rest of the first half was one of the great individual goalkeeping performances of the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Mpasi — the 23-year-old DR Congo goalkeeper — was simply unbeatable. He made a stunning reflex save to deny Jude Bellingham's header from close range. He saved an Ezri Konsa effort that had beaten him only for the post to be struck. He denied a Kane penalty appeal that was dismissed by VAR following a review. In the final ten minutes of the first half alone, Mpasi made three saves of the highest quality. England led possession 59% at the break and had registered eight total shots and four on target. The scoreboard still read 1-0 to DR Congo.
THE KANE COMEBACK
England's breakthrough arrived in the 75th minute and Kane was the inevitable architect of his own rescue. Tuchel had introduced Saka and Gordon on the hour mark — Gordon immediately providing the outlet England had lacked. He chipped a precise ball toward the six-yard box from the right and Kane, arriving perfectly, headed emphatically home for his 12th World Cup goal, tying him with Pele on the all-time list. Atlanta Stadium exhaled.
Kane was not finished. Eleven minutes later — in the 86th — Gordon again found space and played a cutback into the right side of the box. Kane took one touch, shifted onto his right foot and curled a swinging strike into the top corner past an outstretched Mpasi. His 13th World Cup goal. Above Pele. Below only Messi on 18. England's captain screamed at the sky. The bench poured onto the touchline. Six minutes of stoppage time could not undo what Kane had built.
HOW THE GAME PLAYED OUT
England's right side was targeted throughout. DR Congo repeatedly attacked down Spence's flank — Reece James remained sidelined with his hamstring, Quansah had been ruled out with an ankle injury in the Panama game, and Livramento had withdrawn before the tournament. Spence had a difficult first half. DR Congo's Mbemba, magnificent in defence and devastating when initiating attacks, was the best outfield player on the pitch for much of the game. England's first half was described by CBS Sports as "trying to score against a brick wall." Tuchel made no changes at the break — his substitutions on the hour mark changed everything. Rashford and Madueke made way for Saka and Gordon, and both immediate impacts were felt within minutes.
Rice managed his workload as pre-announced — completing 83 passes before being replaced. Bellingham, by contrast, was England's most threatening player before the goals arrived.
LINEUPS
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, James; Rice, Bellingham; Madueke, Odegaard, Rashford; Kane. Subs: Saka (for Madueke, 60'), Gordon (for Rashford, 60'), Rogers (for Rice, 72').
DR Congo (4-3-3): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Inonga, Bah; Chadrac Akolo, Kayembe, Bolulu; Cipenga, Batshuayi, Mbuku. Subs: Elia (for Mbuku, 68').
THE NUMBERS
England: 67% possession, 17 shots, 7 on target. DR Congo: 33% possession, 4 shots, 1 on target. Mpasi: 5 saves — man of the match despite being on the losing side. Kane: 2 goals, 13 World Cup career goals — above Pele, behind only Messi.
WHAT IT MEANS
England are through to the Round of 16 where they face co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca — one of the most hostile environments in world football. Kane will need no reminder of what is at stake. DR Congo exit having written their own chapter in World Cup history — their first-ever appearance at the knockout stage, a stunning first-half lead against one of Europe's giants, and a goalkeeper in Mpasi who will leave this tournament with his stock dramatically higher than when he arrived.
