England survived an outright disaster in Atlanta. Trailing for most of the match, captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32. That result officially punches their ticket to the Round of 16. It also likely saved Thomas Tuchel’s job.
The African nation struck early. Brian Cipenga found the net in the 7th minute, putting a heavily favored England squad on the back foot. And they stayed there. Playing in a heavily air-conditioned stadium to combat the intense Atlanta heat, the match was punctured by multiple hydration breaks as England struggled to break a rigid low-block defense.
Then Kane took over. He leveled the score in the 75th minute and buried the game-winner in the 86th. This wasn’t just a tournament lifeline. It was a statistical anomaly, marking the first time since 1966 that England won a World Cup Finals match after conceding first. DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre didn’t mince words after the final whistle. He praised Kane as the best striker in the world, admitting the captain “saved” a big team from an otherwise perfect defensive strategy.
The brace pushes Kane’s career World Cup goal tally to 13. That officially surpasses Pelé’s legendary tournament record, according to India Today reporting. His club future might be uncertain as FC Barcelona opens transfer talks, but his immediate international schedule is locked. England now advances to face co-hosts Mexico at Estadio Azteca.