ATLANTA, Georgia – England and DR Congo meet today – Wednesday, July 1 – in Atlanta in a World Cup Round of 32 matchup that brings together one of the tournament favorites and one of the World Cup’s best stories.
Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium is at noon Eastern, with TV coverage on FOX and a Spanish broadcast on Telemundo.
Fans who have parted ways with their local cable provider can catch this match by utilizing streaming alternatives like FuboTV and DIRECTV, which both offer a free trial.
This World Cup match can also be found on Sling TV with Sling Select for $19.99 per month. FOX on Sling is available in select markets. A Spanish-language broadcast is also available on Peacock.
England topped Group L with wins over Croatia and Panama and a draw against Ghana, entering the knockout rounds unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel at this World Cup.
DR Congo, meanwhile, has already made history. The Leopards advanced from Group K as one of the best third-place teams after drawing Portugal, losing narrowly to Colombia and beating Uzbekistan, reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s World Cup history.
This matchup also features a pair of talented strikers in England’s Harry Kane and DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa. Each player has three goals so far in the tournament.
The winner will advance to the Round of 16 on Sunday to face either Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.
A look at England
England’s group-stage campaign was mostly professional, if not always spectacular. The Three Lions opened with a 4-2 win over Croatia, a result powered by Kane’s two-goal performance, before being held to a scoreless draw by Ghana in their second match. They then closed Group L with a controlled 2-0 win over Panama to finish first in the group on seven points.
The biggest positive for Tuchel’s side has been its balance. England has gotten production from its stars, with Kane scoring three goals and Jude Bellingham adding two, while the team has also controlled long stretches of matches through possession.
England ranked third in the group stage with 65.3% average possession, showing its ability to dictate tempo and force opponents to defend deep.
England players to watch
Kane has again been England’s most reliable tournament finisher, scoring three times in the group stage, including two goals in the opening win over Croatia. His header against Panama moved him to 11 career World Cup goals, making him England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
Bellingham has been one of England’s most influential attackers, adding two goals during the group stage and giving Tuchel’s side a second central scoring threat behind Kane. His ability to arrive late in the box and create moments between the lines could be crucial against a compact DR Congo defense.
Elliot Anderson has stood out as one of England’s most important connective players. He leads all England players at this World Cup in line-breaking passes, possession won and duels won.
Watch England vs. DR Congo for free in Spanish on FuboTV
A look at DR Congo
DR Congo’s road to the knockouts has been one of the tournament’s standout storylines. The Leopards opened Group K with a 1-1 draw against Portugal, a result that immediately showed they could compete with elite opposition, before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia. They then secured progression with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, finishing as the highest-ranked of the eight best third-place teams.
Wissa has been the clear attacking spark, scoring three of DR Congo’s four goals in the tournament. That kind of efficiency gives the Leopards a realistic path to making England uncomfortable, especially if they can stay compact defensively and turn turnovers into quick chances in transition.
DR Congo players to watch
Wissa has been DR Congo’s standout player, scoring three goals in the group stage and accounting for 75% of the team’s goals at the tournament. If the Leopards are going to pull off the upset, Wissa’s finishing and movement in transition will likely be central to their chances.
Chancel Mbemba gives DR Congo leadership and defensive stability as the team’s captain. With the Leopards expected to defend in a compact shape, Mbemba’s organization and experience will be vital against Kane, Bellingham and an England attack that has already produced six goals in the tournament.
Brian Cipenga is another player to watch after making an immediate impact against Uzbekistan. In his World Cup debut, Cipenga completed six dribbles, the second-most by any player in a single group-stage match at this tournament, giving DR Congo a direct wide threat who can carry the ball out of pressure.
Watch England vs. DR Congo for free on DIRECTV
Who is announcing England vs. DR Congo?
Darren Fletcher (play-by-play), Owen Hargreaves (analyst) and Geoff Shreeves (reporter) will be on the call.
What are the latest odds for England vs. DR Congo?
Note: Odds are as of Tuesday afternoon.
Moneyline: ENG (-350); DRC (+1200); Draw (+425)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings
Check out more information on how to watch the England vs. DR Congo match today on TV and streaming services:
What: England vs. DR Congo, World Cup Round of 32 match
When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Time: Noon Eastern
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA
Channel: FOX, Telemundo
Best streaming options: Fubo (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial) and Sling (promotional offers as low as $4.99) and in Spanish on Peacock.
Information from the AP was included in this report and AI might have been used to assist with this story.
