England and DR Congo have confirmed their beginning groups for his or her World Cup 2026 last-32 tie in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The Three Lions beat Panama 2-0 to complete prime of Group L, having been held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana after profitable their opener 4-2 in opposition to Croatia.
Thirty-six locations beneath England at forty first in FIFA’s rankings, the Leopards drew 1-1 with Portugal and misplaced 1-0 to Colombia earlier than coming from behind to beat Uzbekistan and guide their first-ever World Cup knockout match.
The winners will face Mexico in Mexico Metropolis on Monday (01:00 BST) after the co-hosts continued their serene progress with a 2-0 victory in opposition to Ecuador earlier on Wednesday.
World Cup 2026: England confirmed staff vs DR Congo
England make three modifications from their victory over Panama: Djed Spence, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke substitute Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers and Jarell Quansah, who began that match however suffered an harm and is on the bench this time.
Full-back Reece James, who performed all through England’s first two matches however missed the encounter with Panama due to a hamstring situation, can also be among the many substitutes.
England beginning XI: Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke
England substitutes: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Reece James, Jarell Quansah, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney
World Cup 2026: DR Congo full line up vs England
DR Congo make one alteration from their win over Uzbekistan, bringing in midfielder Ngalayel Mukau for ahead Cedric Bakambu.
DR Congo beginning XI: Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku, Ngalayel Mukau, Nathanael Mbuku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Brian Cipenga, Yoane Wissa
DR Congo substitutes: Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Steve Kapuadi, Dylan Batubinsika, Joris Kayembe, Gedeon Kalulu, Theo Bongonda, Aaron Tshibola, Charles Pickel, Edo Kayembe, Gael Kakuta, Meschack Elia, Cedric Bakambu, Fiston Mayele, Simon Banza
The place to observe England vs DR Congo: TV channel, dwell on-line streams
Kick-off on Wednesday is at 17:00 BST (12:00 ET / 09:00 PT). Within the UK, dwell TV protection is on BBC One.
Streaming on an enormous vary of gadgets is obtainable by means of the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport web site.
World Cup 2026: England vs DR Congo stats
- England are unbeaten in 11 aggressive fixtures below Thomas Tuchel (W10) – solely Ron Greenwood (16, between 1977 and 1980) and Roy Hodgson (14, between 2012 and 2013) loved longer undefeated begins to their tenures
- This would be the second time England have encountered two African groups on the similar World Cup – in 1990 they beat Egypt 1-0 within the group stage and knocked out Cameroon 3-2 within the quarter-finals
- Harry Kane will transfer degree with Geoff Hurst (4) for knockout-stage targets for England on the World Cup if he scores, with solely Gary Lineker (6) netting extra
- The European golden shoe winner scored three throughout the group stage to grow to be England’s report scorer on the males’s World Cup
- Elliot Anderson leads all England gamers for line-breaking passes (30), possession gained (20) and duels gained (24) at this World Cup, with Ecuador’s Pedro Vite the one different participant to realize a minimum of 20 in every of these classes within the group stage
- DR Congo ranked thirty eighth for possession common (38.5%) within the group stage. England have been third, on 65.3%
- Yoane Wissa has scored three of DR Congo’s 4 targets within the competitors, matching his tally throughout your complete 2025/26 season with Newcastle
- Wissa averaged a aim each 301 minutes for the Magpies however has one each 90 minutes on the World Cup
- The 29-year-old has averaged an anticipated targets (xG) tally of 0.21 for every of his 9 makes an attempt on the 2026 finals, with a complete xG of 1.87
- That is the eleventh time an African staff has confronted a former winner in a World Cup knockout match, with Morocco the one one to have superior once they beat Spain on penalties within the final 16 in 2022
