England vs. DR Congo Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, July 1, 2026
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosts the Round of 32 at noon ET as England take on DR Congo in a knockout clash with the winner facing Mexico or Ecuador in the Round of 16. England earned this draw by winning Group L with seven points, securing top spot with a 2-0 win over Panama, while DR Congo finished third behind Colombia and Portugal in Group K after a draw with Portugal, a loss to Colombia, and a historic 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Reaching the knockout rounds is already ground-breaking for Sébastien Desabre's side, but they will be fully focused on giving England a serious run for their money in a stadium under a dome where the atmosphere will be electric from the opening whistle. Read on to find out who advances in our England vs. DR Congo prediction. Get our top World Cup Predictions and increase your bankroll!
England: Injury Headaches at Right Back
England fulfilled their first ambition by finishing top of Group L and they will expect to make further progress in Atlanta. After jubilant celebrations following the 4-2 victory over Croatia, England fans were brought back down to earth by the scrappy stalemate against Ghana and the 2-0 triumph over Panama, which was harder work than expected. Thomas Tuchel has continued to tinker with his team and there should be at least another two changes on the cards, as Jarell Quansah is struggling with an injury while Declan Rice is primed to come back into the side.
Harry Kane already has three World Cup goals in this tournament and Jude Bellingham is on two. England carry a deep and largely fit squad into this Round of 32 tie, with Jordan Pickford reliable between the posts throughout the tournament and the back four offering experience through John Stones and Marc Guehi. Rashford and Saka have tended to perform better against a low defensive block and they could be important to getting at a DR Congo backline that held Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at arm's length for much of their World Cup opener.
The right-back situation is the headline injury concern heading into Atlanta. Reece James and Jarell Quansah are injured, after Tino Livramento also went home with an injury, meaning Djed Spence starts at right back, a player often guilty of poor positioning and getting caught out when he goes forward to join attacks, which should offer DR Congo hope and their attacks are likely to target England's left flank as a result. Kane and Bellingham have been the brightest of England's attackers, and their unpredictability and big-moment-seizing ability will be key, but the supply line down the wings needs to be up to scratch against a DR Congo backline that will know exactly what to expect from England's forwards.
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DR Congo: Wissa the Constant Danger, Premier League Defense Built to Frustrate
DR Congo played in a cautious manner against Portugal, securing a hard-earned 1-1 draw, and Colombia, losing 1-0. They showed the ability to chase a game under pressure against Uzbekistan by recovering from Eldor Shomurodov's early goal and registering a momentous 3-1 victory. From this point, anything they achieve would be beyond expectations.
Yoane Wissa against England's center-back pairing is the duel that shapes the game. Wissa has three World Cup goals in this tournament, all scored with quick movement in behind a high defensive line. John Stones and Marc Guehi are experienced enough to manage the threat, but DR Congo's tactical approach will be to play on the counter and feed Wissa into space. Coming off a disastrous, injury-marred season for Newcastle United, Wissa has been brilliant for DR Congo, often ploughing a lone furrow up top and taking the chances they do create with real quality.
DR Congo are a defense-first team who aren't very expansive. In games against Colombia and Portugal, they had just four shots on target in total, looking to sit back and frustrate teams rather than go out and attack them. Chancel Mbemba, who has 109 caps, is the senior defensive figure, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe bring Premier League-caliber defensive quality to a backline that has held its shape even when outclassed in possession. DR Congo has allowed just three goals through three World Cup matches, a defensive record that commands respect regardless of the quality differential between these two squads. The 1-0 loss to Colombia and the pre-tournament defeat to Chile are the more realistic form indicators, but DR Congo have already proven their capacity to frustrate better teams and steal moments from set pieces and rapid transitions through Wissa's movement.
England vs. DR Congo Picks
- Match Result Pick: England
England to win is the headline selection, backed by squad depth, tournament pedigree, and a World Cup scoring record in 2026 that DR Congo simply cannot match. Kane hunting additional goals, Bellingham driving from deep, and Saka and Rashford finally given the wide platform they need against an opponent that sits deeper than Ghana or Panama gives Tuchel the matchup context where England's attacking quality should eventually tell.
- Over/Under Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Both sides have been stingy defensively. DR Congo has allowed three goals through three World Cup matches while England has allowed just two. DR Congo will sit in a low block and frustrate, following the same blueprint that Ghana and Panama used to keep England goalless, meaning this could be another tense, grinding affair for England fans. This has the feel of a tough, low-scoring afternoon rather than a romp, DR Congo are an organized, resolute low block who defend deep and counter, and they have already shown they can frustrate better sides and nick a goal from a set piece or a break. The card is built around a controlled 2-0 England win where DR Congo do not offer much going forward. Take the Under 2.5 goals at -111 and back a grinding England performance that gets the job done without opening the game up.
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