England ends a long 60-year wait with a World Cup win over DR Congo
England pulled off a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta, breaking a 60-year-old record. Harry Kane scored twice after the second-half hydration break to help England come back from a one-goal deficit, after Brian Cipenga put Congo ahead in the seventh minute.
Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, became the first England player to score two goals in a World Cup knockout game since Gary Lineker did it against Cameroon in 1990. England struggled at times during the match, especially in defense, which might worry coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of their next game against Mexico.
Fans might not have loved the way the team played, but they’ll be happy England made it through, especially since they were heavy favorites before the match started. This comeback is special for England because it’s the first time they’ve won a World Cup game after being behind at halftime, ending a nine-game streak without a comeback like this.
They also broke a 60-year record by winning after conceding the first goal, something they hadn’t done since the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany. Plus, England kept up their perfect record against African teams in the World Cup, having now won every match against African nations, including wins over Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2022.
Next up, England will face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, a place where they have only lost twice in their last 88 matches. It should be an exciting game!