England vs DR Congo match preview for World Cup 2026 round of 32

England go meet stubborn DR Congo side wey don reach di World Cup knockout stage for di first time in dia history, afta dem turn into well-organised and disciplined team under coach Sébastien Desabre.

DR Congo bin qualify di hard way for di World Cup wit one winning and one draw.

Even though di Ebola outbreak for dia kontri affect dia preparations bifor di World Cup, di Congolese fight wit all dia strength during di group stage, and dia hard work pay off wen Yoane Wissa score two goals to help dem beat Uzbekistan 3-2 for dia first-eva World Cup victory.

England go continue dia chase for di 2026 World Cup title wen dem face first-time round of 32 qualifiers, DR Congo, on Wednesday.

England qualify comfortably for di round of 32 afta dem finish top of Group L wit seven points. Di Three Lions beat Croatia and Panama bifor playing tactical draw against Ghana.

Dem finish di group stage strongly as Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane answer questions about dia goalscoring form to help England finish top of di group.

Tactical flexibility go play big role for dis match. Sébastien Desabre don build im team on strong defensive organisation, keeping 29 clean sheets in 57 matches since e bicom coach.

Although e normally like to play wit back four, for dis tournament Desabre don switch to strong back-five defence to frustrate top European teams like Portugal.

DR Congo go likely return to dia disciplined low-block defence to reduce space for England creative players, absorb pressure and hit England on counterattack.

England go need to hold possession well bicos any loose ball fit quickly reach di direct Congolese attackers.

DR Congo attack depends heavily on di understanding between Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu. Wissa, wey dey eager to prove imsef afta im debut season wit Newcastle, don score three of Congo four group-stage goals.

Dem also get strong and hardworking midfield led by Sunderland player Noah Sadiki, wey dey carry ball forward well, alongside Lille midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau.

Dia energy for midfield and pace for attack go test England full-backs weneva England lose possession.

England get strong defensive understanding under coach Thomas Tuchel, although Chelsea defender Reece James and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah still get fitness concerns afta recent ankle injuries.

Di Three Lions go depend on di experienced central defensive partnership of John Stones and Marc Guéhi to control play from di back and help Jordan Pickford keep anoda clean sheet.

DR Congo too get one settled and experienced defence. Captain Chancel Mbemba lead di backline, along wit Aaron Wan-Bissaka of West Ham, Axel Tuanzebe of Burnley and Arthur Masuaku of Lens.

Dis defence don show say wen all of dem dey available, e hard for opponents to beat dem by more dan one goal, meaning England fit need plenti patience bifor dem fit break dem down.

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham score five goals to help England qualify for di knockout stage, but some pipo still dey question weda coach Tuchel get di right balance for im squad.

England don dey struggle to create chances for recent matches, and some football analysts believe say di team neva show enough intensity to go far for di tournament.

Wen dem face DR Congo, England go hope say dis na di first of five matches wey fit finally end dia 60-year wait to win anoda World Cup.

England remain di clear favourites against DR Congo, but di road to di final no go easy, as dem fit later meet Mexico for home soil, Brazil and Argentina.

England neva win any major trophy since di 1966 World Cup.

For DR Congo, di tournament don already bicom success and redemption for dia only previous appearance.

For 1974 wen di kontri still dey bear Zaire, dem crash out for di group stage afta dem lose all three matches, failing to score any goal while conceding 14.

Expected squad

England expected lineup (4-2-3-1):

Pickford (goalkeeper); Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.

DR Congo expected lineup (5-3-2):

Mpasi (goalkeeper); Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapuadi, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Kayembe; Wissa, Bakambu.

Di match go happun for Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, United States, on Wednesday, July 1, by 12 noon (16:00 GMT).