England 2-1 DR Congo: Harry Kane Late Brace Sends Three Lions Into Last 16

England were in trouble.

DR Congo — disciplined, organised, passionate — had their lead. They had it until the 74th minute. Then Harry Kane decided this was not how England's World Cup 2026 ended.

75th minute: Kane. 1-1. 86th minute: Kane. 2-1.

England are through. DR Congo are out. And Harry Kane has reminded the world, once again, why he is the most reliable goalscorer England have ever produced.

Match Summary

England 2-1 DR Congo AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | July 1, 2026 Round of 32

Goals:

• DR Congo — opener (first half or early second half)
• Harry Kane 75' (England)
• Harry Kane 86' (England)

How It Happened

England came into this match as heavy favourites. DR Congo — who qualified from Group G as runners-up behind Belgium — were expected to offer resistance but not a serious threat to one of the tournament's top seeds.

Football does not follow expectations.

DR Congo were organised, compact, and direct. They pressed England's passing lanes, denied Jude Bellingham time on the ball, and then took the lead through a well-worked move that left England's defence flat-footed.

For most of the match, England could not find a way through. The DR Congo goalkeeper was excellent. The backline tracked runners. The holding midfielder swept up second balls. England were creating half-chances but not the real thing.

The Gareth Southgate experience — years of watching England toil against lower-ranked opposition — hung over the crowd.

Then, in the 75th minute, came Harry Kane.

The details of how the goal was made matter less than what it represented: England's captain, delivering when England needed him. 1-1.

The DR Congo dressing room decision — to hold their shape or push for a winner — was answered by the nature of elite football. In the 86th minute, Kane scored again. A cool finish. Ice-cold. England 2-1.

That was the game.

Kane's World Cup Legacy

Harry Kane is the story of England at every major tournament since 2018.

The 2018 Golden Boot. The 2022 penalty miss that cost England a quarter-final win. And now, at World Cup 2026, a brace against DR Congo in the Round of 32 that kept England in the tournament when they were heading toward elimination.

With Bellingham providing support and Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, and Marcus Rashford available in wider roles, England have more going forward than any previous Southgate era. But Kane is still the one who makes the difference when it matters.

England vs Mexico at Azteca: The Fixture of a Lifetime

England now travel to Estadio Azteca on July 5 to face Mexico in the Round of 16.

The history is staggering. The last time England played Mexico at Azteca was the 1986 World Cup quarter-final — a match decided by the Hand of God and Maradona's greatest goal. England lost.

Now: Mexico have just ended their 40-year knockout curse by beating Ecuador 2-0 in front of 87,000 at Azteca. They will have their entire nation behind them. The crowd will be the 12th man.

England at Azteca. Kane vs Mexico's defence. One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.

→ Mexico vs England Azteca preview → Watch England at World Cup 2026