BBC Radio 5 Live

Former DR Congo defender Gabriel Zukuani speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Our strength has been the players who play in top leagues. We are no longer minnows. Players with dual nationality are choosing to play for the DRC now. Top players are used to playing in front of big teams and it's helped close that gap."

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BBC Radio 5 Live

Former DR Congo defender Gabriel Zukuani speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's unbelievable. It's been 52 years, such a long time coming and such a big achievement for the country. We came into the tournament happy to be involved and now we've shown how far we've come and are looking forward to a massive game against England.

"Our objective was to get to the World Cup and make a good impression of ourselves. The country is proud. We've got England next and we don't want our journey to end."

There are two episodes of the Football Daily podcast available today.

You can relive the atmosphere and instant reaction from 5 Live at full-time as England beat Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Host Mark Chapman is joined by Alan Shearer, Matthew Upson, Paul Robinson and correspondent John Murray, with the pod also featuring interviews with England's Jude Bellingham, Thomas Tuchel, Marcus Rashford, Ezri Konsa and Harry Kane.

And there is also the pod's usual daily instalment with Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith in Los Angeles, where they discuss Scotland's World Cup exit and Steve Clarke's resignation as manager, while The Athletic's Adam Crafton looks ahead to the round of 32.

Central defender Chancel Mbemba, 31, is the team's captain and most-capped player. He remains integral to his country despite two seasons as a peripheral figure with clubs in France. The former Newcastle player is out of contract with Lille this summer.

Belgium-born Noah Sadiki has added dynamism to DR Congo's midfield since earning his first cap in September 2024, albeit he was a surprise omission from their first two World Cup games. The 21-year-old has been a £15m revelation for Sunderland with his energy, athleticism and ball-carrying ability.

Yoane Wissa's 2025-26 campaign never got going after joining Newcastle in a deal worth up to £55m. A serious knee injury delayed his debut and he only made eight starts in all competitions. However, the 29-year-old was the joint-top scoring African player in the World Cup group stage, with three goals. "We've got him back to his best," said coach Sebastien Desabre.

Cedric Bakambu, 35, is the oldest member of the squad but still one of the most effective. The striker scored four times in the World Cup qualifiers and is on the cusp of becoming the country's record goalscorer.

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Their strengths?

Defensive solidity has underpinned their improvement, as shown by 29 clean sheets in 57 games under Sebastien Desabre. Since he took charge, DR Congo have never lost by more than a one-goal margin when able to call on Europe-based players.

Swift counter-attacks utilise the prowess of strikers Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa at running in behind opposition defences.

Mental resilience, often lacking in the past, was forged during a protracted qualifying campaign which included three play-off matches.

And what about their weaknesses?

DR Congo have seldom faced top-20 ranked sides in recent years, bar Senegal and Morocco – and they have a poor record against both.

With the majority of the national team's regular starters struggling for playing time at their clubs in 2025-26, a lack of conditioning – and quality – is a concern.

Fifty-two years after a chastening World Cup debut, DR Congo have earned redemption by qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time.

Back in 1974, when known as Zaire, their three group defeats included a 9-0 hammering by Yugoslavia. They had not been to a World Cup since, until now, but head coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed a team who were in crisis when he took over nearly four years ago.

He led them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has instilled discipline and tactical nous.

A back five was trialled just before the World Cup and maintained for the first two games of the tournament, which included a 1-1 draw with Portugal and narrow 1-0 defeat to group winners Colombia, before they switched to 4-4-2 to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and secure their place in the last 32.

But enough about Kane and England for now. Let's take a look at their opponents in the last 32, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa has been in great form for his nation at the 2026 World Cup, and has scored three times already.

They have some other recognisable names in the form of West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, and qualified for the knockout stages for the first time after coming from behind to beat Uzbekistan in their final group game.

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Harry Kane did also score 14 in the Champions League last season, Andy.

Can Harry Kane win another Golden Boot this year?

It looks like Lionel Messi may have other ideas, but there are plenty of games to go in this summer's tournament.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

When Harry Kane broke Gary Lineker's World Cup goalscoring record on Saturday, the Bayern Munich striker said he was "proud."

Lineker, who scored six times at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and four times in Italy four years later, said recently that Kane was "the greatest English striker we've ever had".

Kane got two goals in England's opening 4-2 win against Croatia, which made him only the second England men's player to score at three different World Cups (Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026).

He joins former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham, who scored at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Kane won the Golden Boot in Russia eight years ago with six goals, before adding two further strikes in Qatar.

He has three in total so far at this World Cup after helping England into the last 32.

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England

England captain Harry Kane was asked about the World Cup Golden Boot after he scored his third of the tournament against Panama: "They have started fast, [Lionel] Messi is on five (he's now on six!), [Erling] Haaland and [Kylian] Mbappe on four. For me, I try not to think about those guys. I know you guys [the media] will compare me to all of them, that's the way it goes. But after not scoring in the last game, as a striker, I wanted to get back on the scoresheet as quickly as possible."

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All of the stars have shown up so far at the World Cup, and the top scorer standings are very competitive.

Lionel Messi's sixth goal of the tournament, against Jordan, further extended his lead at the top, but numerous forwards are in the chasing pack.

1. Lionel Messi - 6
2. Kylian Mbappe, Ousame Dembele, Vinicius Jr, Erling Haaland - 4

England's Harry Kane has three goals so far, but so do nine other players - including Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, Newcastle's Yoane Wissa and Sunderland's Brian Brobbey.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

If England were to win the World Cup, one man who is likely to have had a huge impact is Three Lions captain, Harry Kane.

The Bayern Munich striker netted his third of the tournament against Panama, breaking the England record for goals at World Cups in the process, and still has his eyes on the Golden Boot - an accolade he won in 2018.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Let us dream...

Sunday, 19 July - 20:00 BST

All 16 teams in the other half of the draw are potential World Cup final opponents for England.

The strongest sides who England could not possibly face before the final include 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France, 2014 champions Germany and 2010 victors Spain.

France and Germany will face each other at the last-16 stage if both win their opening knockout fixtures, while the Netherlands face a difficult last-32 tie against Morocco.

Either of those two sides could face France or Germany in the last eight, with the winners then most likely to face Spain in the semi-finals.

Spain will face Portugal in the last 16 if both win their first knockout ties - Spain face Austria, while Portugal will play Croatia.

Also in the opposite half of the draw are Paraguay, Sweden, South Africa, Canada, USA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium and Senegal.

The final will be held in New Jersey in front of 82,500 fans.

Not to mention Mexico have looked impressive so far and won all of their group games.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

What if they reach the semi-finals?

Wednesday, 15 July - 20:00 BST

We're getting a fair bit ahead now, but if England were to make it this far, they could face the defending champions.

Perhaps the favourites to reach this stage would be Argentina, who won all three of their group stage games as the talismanic Lionel Messi continued delivering on all the biggest stage of allin the month he turned 39, scoring five goals.

Their first knockout round tie is against surprise package Cape Verde, before a last-16 match against whoever wins between Australia and Egypt.

Also in this section of the draw are Colombia, who would face Argentina in the quarter-final if both nations win their first two knockout fixtures. They topped their group, ahead of Portugal, having won two of their three matches.

Other perhaps less likely potential opponents in the final four include Switzerland, Algeria and Ghana, who are all in the same side of the draw as England.

Reaching the semi-final would mean a return for England to Atlanta, where they will also play their last-32 match.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Potential quarter-final opponents

Saturday, 11 July - 22:00 BST

Now, this is where things being to look more difficult.

Five-time winners Brazil are in England's section of the draw and are potential quarter-final opponents, but Carlo Ancelotti's men would first have to overcome Japan in the last 32.

Vinicius Jr. and co topped Group C - knocking out Scotland in the process - but were unconvincing on the one occasion they were truly tested, drawing 1-1 with Morocco in their opening fixture.

Japan, meanwhile, looked strong technically and tactically as they finished second behind the Netherlands in Group F, and have not lost in any of their past 16 matches, beating England 1-0 in a friendly at Wembley in March.

The two other possible quarter-final opponents for England are Ivory Coast and Norway, who will face each other in the last 32.

Ivory Coast have impressive attackers including RB Leipzig's teenage superstar Yan Diomande, Inter's Ange-Yoan Bonny and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo. They finished second behind Germany in the group stage.

And Norway, who finished second behind France in Group I, have impressed in their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

With Manchester City's Erling Haaland up front, they would pose a significant threat.

If England reach this stage, they will be playing in Miami.

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If England get past DR Congo, Mexico in Mexico City could be a test with that altitude playing a factor too.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Who could they meet in the last 16?

Monday, 6 July - 01:00 BST

If England progress to the second knockout round, they could face co-hosts Mexico, one of only three teams to win all three of their group-stage fixtures.

They have been helped by playing all three of their matches on home soil, and the early knockout rounds will be the same - both their last-32 tie with Ecuador and the potential last-16 game against England will take place in Mexico City's 87,500-capacity Estadio Azteca.

Mexico are ranked ninth in the world and have not lost a competitive fixture since a 2-0 defeat by Honduras in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final in November 2024 - a run of 12 matches unbeaten.

Ecuador, meanwhile, finished third in Group E after securing a dramatic 2-1 win over Germany in the final round of matches.

They haven't conceded more than one goal in any match in over two years, a run stretching 26 games.

The Azteca sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, with that kind of altitude potentially causing shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and fatigue for players who are not used to it.

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