Ready for this one?
It should be a straightforward game on paper. But there are no easy tests at this tournament, and DR Congo have been decent up until this point.
Given that England have struggled against deep blocks, will this one cause them more problems?
So what are the permutations for this one?
It's not ideal – but if England get through their appointment with DR Congo and into the last-16, they're going to have to go away to the Azteca.
Mexico are up next for the winner of this one – and given their incredible record at the beautiful Mexico City stadium, it's going to be their biggest test yet (assuming, of course, they can come out with a result for this one).
The game is live on BBC One this evening – here are all the details you need
Former Three Lions all-time scorer Wayne Rooney is back in the studio as a pundit alongside an all-star cast, too – we've got all the info on the Beeb's broadcasting team tonight.
The line-up has dropped…
Our team news for DR Congo! 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/eNjGs5VjeDJuly 1, 2026
Some interesting selection decisions…
Kick-off in Atlanta!
Away we go.
GOAL! ENGLAND 0-1 DR CONGO
It's an early goal for DR Congo! Brian Cipenga is all alone on the left and fires his first international goal in at Jordan Pickford's near post.
England are behind.
That's a seventh-minute goal for the Leopards and England's goalkeeper won't be pleased with it. Some of his defenders should be asking themselves the same questions.
We're 13 minutes in and England are finally getting a foot on the ball.
Nico O'Reilly steps in to link with Jude Bellingham as England start to control possession in the face of a determined Congolese wall.
Corner for England.
England 0-1 DR Congo: Live Match Stats
After quarter of an hour, England have 54% possession but there has been one shot in the game: Cipenga's goal.
England haven't managed a touch of the ball in DR Congo's box.
Fouls are four for England and one for DR Congo.
YELLOW CARD
Jude Bellingham ends a period of chaotic England defending by diving in and earning himself a caution.
Thomas Tuchel's team look very, very dodgy at the back.
We've reached the first-half hydration break
Wow.
DR Congo took the only chance of the game and have been organised ever since. England have been woeful.
Tuchel has work to do over the next couple of minutes.
Back underway at Atlanta Stadium. Let's see if the momentum map changes in England's favour.
YELLOW CARD
Noah Sadiki of DRC is next in the book for unceremoniously ending Djed Spence's lung-busting run on the right.
The resulting free kick is delivered low by Declan Rice into a busy box, hits Ezri Konsa's knee and bounces wide.
England are operating in the attacking third for the first time.
Bellingham goes close!
Rice's cross from the right on 29 minutes is perfect and Jude Bellingham's header isn't far off the same standard.
Very good save from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
England 0-1 DR Congo: Live Match Stats
Shots on target now stand at 1-1 after Bellingham's header.
England have had 58% possession in the first 30 minutes and fouls are now five for England and one for DRC.
The Three Lions have a slightly higher xG, which will stick in Pickford's craw after conceding early.
Two chances for England!
Harry Kane's clear sight of goal is quickly shut down by Axel Tuanzebe before Noni Madueke digs out a ball across the box and Marcus Rashford forces Aaron Wan-Bissaka to clear off the line.
It's all hands on deck for DR Congo at the moment.
Free kick for England here in a very dangerous spot after a foul on Marcus Rashford. Declan Rice will deliver from the England left and...
It's dreadful.
DR Congo have had their first attack in a while and England immediately looked flaky in their own box again.
Corner for the Leopards.
Post!
Yoane Wissa gets across Ezri Konsa to meet Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross from the right.
DR Congo should be two up here. Has to score.
43rd minute and England want a penalty. Harry Kane goes over the hands of Lionel Mpasi and the referee quickly dismissed the claim and signals that it was a dive.
Which... maybe?
VAR check cleared in no time.
We're now into a minimum of six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Chance for England!
Another Bellingham header on target and another excellent save from Npasi. England, despite their performance, are very capable of nicking a goal here.
England have a corner to end the half. Rice is there.
Npasi with another save!
DR Congo are really struggling with England's corners. This one finds Harry Kane totally unmarked at the back post but the captain's volley is saved.
HALF TIME: England 0-1 DR Congo
That was a very poor half from England and Lionel Npasi ensured they didn't get away with it.
Over to you, Thomas...
The cross for Jude Bellingham's second saved header was an in-swinger from Noni Madueke on the right and it highlighted the Arsenal winger's inconsistency in the first half.
More than once, Madueke was involved in an England chance. But there have been disappointing moments from him too.
He's not alone in that, mind.
England 0-1 DR Congo: Live Match Stats
Half time stats...
England have had eight shots, four on target. DR Congo have just the one shot on target but they made it count very early in the game.
Possession is creeping up for England, who have 59% over the course of the first half.
Corners are two to one for England.
Seven fouls for England, six for DRC, and one yellow card each.
Is that a thunderclap we hear in the distance?
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Darren Cann, formerly a top-level assistant referee and BBC Sport's refereeing analyst, is clear that Harry Kane should have had a penalty for Npasi's challenge in the box.
Here come the teams for the second half.
Second half is underway!
Now or never for Tuchel's England.
Chance!
Six minutes into the second half and Marcus Rashford zips past a defender before hitting the side netting.
It's another save for Mpasi to keep out a deflecting and spinning cross from Bellingham.
Again, England are pushing.
England 0-1 DR Congo: Live Match Stats
As we hit the hour mark in a lull from an England point of view, here's the latest.
England are up to 60% possession but have still had just four shots on target. They've had and not taken six big chances.
Substitutions for England
Anthony Gordon is on for Marcus Rashford.
Bukayo Saka is on for Noni Madueke.
Half an hour to go.
How to watch England vs DR Congo
If you're just getting home from work and looking for the game, we have all the information you need.
Substitution for DR Congo
As the hydration break draws nearer, Nathanael Mbuku is replaced by Meschack Elia.
We're in the second half hydration break
England have been chasing the game now for an hour, or trying to.
They had a spell of pressure after the drinks break in the first half and they need to do it again here because they've had nothing in this half.
We're back underway
England are in serious trouble and history is not their friend.
The last time England won a World Cup game after conceding first was in 1966... in the final against West GermanyJuly 1, 2026
Substitution for England
Eberechi Eze comes on for Djed Spence and England are going for it.
Corner for England
Rice over it again. Cleared again. But Eze is fouled on the counter-press and England can load it again.
GOAL FOR ENGLAND! IT'S 1-1!
Harry Kane's header beats Mpasi this time!
Substitutions for DR Congo
Double change for DR Congo as Theo Bongonda and Edo Kayembe replace Ngal Mukau and Brian Cipenga.
Elliot Anderson lifts one over from distance. England are hunting for a winner but there's defensive work to be done too.
Declan Rice was among England's better players already but he's been moved to right-back since Spence went off and he's done a terrific job there so far.
England have some thrust from the back.
GOAL FOR ENGLAND! 2-1!
Mpasi saves from Bellingham but Harry Kane is loitering and THUMPS England into the lead after fabulous footwork from Gordon!
That's a captain, right there.
Substitutions for DR Congo
Another two changes for DRC. Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku off. Fiston Mayele and Joris Kayembe on.
Last minute of normal time.
England change for the last five minutes...?
John Stones is on for Declan Rice and we're one minute into six minutes of stoppage time.
England 2-1 DR Congo: Player Ratings
Jordan Pickford - 5
Should have saved Cipenga's early goal at his near post.
Djed Spence - 4
Offered a couple of bright moments with the ball at his feet but his final ball was poor.
Ezri Konsa - 4
Very shaky showing from both centre-backs.
Marc Guehi - 5
Grew into the game on the ball but a long way off it defensively at times.
Nico O'Reilly - 4
Didn't impact the game enough in possession as England struggled to attack from the flanks.
Declan Rice - 6
Mixed bag in terms of dead ball delivery but usually involved in England possession and did a great job after moving to right-back.
Elliot Anderson - 5
He's more than just a metronome but only when his passes break the lines.
Jude Bellingham - 6
Two headers on target in the first half and looked England's likeliest scorer before the break. Too quiet after it but rebounded.
Marcus Rashford - 4
Carried a threat, fleetingly.
Noni Madueke - 4
Produced some creative quality but seemed as likely to be a dead end.
Harry Kane - 7
When he scores, nothing else matters. Not a vintage performance but scored a vital goal again.
Substitutes
Anthony Gordon - 6
Quickly in Aaron Wan-Bissaka's face and clipped in the cross for Kane's equaliser. Superb assist for the second too.
Bukayo Saka - 5
A few iffy early touches but a telling impact on a more composed right-hand side.
Eberechi Eze - 5
Linked well with clubmates Rice and Saka on England's right.
John Stones - N/A
Stoppage-time substitute.
FULL TIME: England 2-1 DR Congo
That's some escape for England.
The Three Lions were very poor for long stretches of this match but when you need your skipper, it helps if your skipper is Harry Kane.
Two goals tonight Five at World Cup 2026.
It's a 1:00am kick-off on Monday for England against Mexico at Mexico City Stadium in the round of 16.
DR Congo can count themselves unfortunate to be heading home.
England had the chances and it paid off in the end but the Leopards frequently looked threatening, confident, organised and aggressive.
They've given England a lot to think about before they head to Mexico.
Who do England play next in the World Cup?
The round of 32 was touch and go for England but Harry Kane dragged them away from the edge and the round of 16 awaits.
Mexico vs England will be played at Mexico City Stadium at 1:00am UK time on Monday.
El Tri have never lost a World Cup match at Azteca, which stands more than 2,000 metres above sea level and has been a real problem for opponents for decades.
England will need to be twice the team they were against DR Congo to have any chance of reaching the quarter-final.
Harry Kane talking to BBC Sport after England 2-1 DR Congo
"It feels amazing to be honest. Yeah, what a crazy game. Obviously, first and foremost playing against a tough team, organised, going behind but after that first hydration break I thought we upped the level.
"Their keeper made some unbelievable saves in that first half and it was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock, and our moments would come.
"We speak about people having hero moments, it could be anyone in the team. Whether it's me, a save from Pickers, a block from the defenders, whoever it is, we have hero moments, and yeah, for me it was today."
England are off to Mexico City!
So that's that.
Mexico next, on their own turf, and it's a 1:00am kick-off UK time on Monday, July 6.
