England vs Congo DR is the standout fixture on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, as the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 rolls on. The Three Lions face DR Congo at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off at noon ET (9 PM Pakistan Standard Time). Two more big matches follow later in the day: Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle and the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara.
England vs Congo DR: Match Preview
This is one of the most anticipated ties of the day. England continue their chase of a first World Cup title since their famous triumph in 1966 when they meet DR Congo for the very first time.
England had a strong group stage. England ranked third for possession average (65.3%) in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Their captain Harry Kane comes in with some impressive records too. Harry Kane is now England’s all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 11 goals. If he scores in this match, he will move level with Geoff Hurst for knockout stage goals in the competition, with only Gary Lineker netting more than four for the Three Lions.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson leads all England players for line-breaking passes (30), possession won (20) and duels won (24) at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He was one of only two players with 20+ in each of those three categories in the group stage.
DR Congo are no pushovers. Their key man is Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa. Yoane Wissa has scored 75% of DR Congo’s goals at the FIFA World Cup 2026, averaging a goal every 90 minutes in the tournament. This is as many as he netted in the 2025-26 club season for Newcastle United, where he averaged a goal every 301 minutes across all competitions. That tells you how much he has stepped up on the big stage. Also watch out for winger Brian Cipenga. DR Congo winger Brian Cipenga completed six dribbles against Uzbekistan on Matchday 3, on what was his FIFA World Cup debut. Only one player completed more in a group stage match in this tournament: Paraguay’s Julian Enciso against Türkiye with seven.
England vs Congo DR: Kick-off Time in Pakistan
| Match | Venue | ET (USA) | Pakistan Time (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Congo DR | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Belgium vs Senegal | Lumen Field, Seattle | 4:00 PM | 1:00 AM (Jul 2) |
| USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | 8:00 PM | 5:00 AM (Jul 2) |
Tuesday’s Results: France, Norway and Mexico Through
Before today’s England vs Congo DR clash, Tuesday 30 June gave us three excellent Round of 32 results. Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. France beat Sweden 3-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. All three teams now advance to the Round of 16.
Belgium vs Senegal: What to Watch
The second match today is Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle. Belgium, who have already bettered their last World Cup in Qatar where they failed to escape the group stage, take on Senegal. Unlike Belgium, the Lions of Teranga did get out of their group four years ago, only to fall to England in the Round of 16. But the Red Devils, ranked 10th in the world and winners of Group G, will still be considered favourites.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Home Crowd Advantage
The night match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. The USA headline the Round of 32 on Wednesday as they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a spot in the last 16 on the line. This will be the fourth time the two sides have met, though the first in a competitive setting, following three friendlies.
The hosts topped Group D on the back of wins against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), with a lone defeat to Türkiye (3-2) coming after their progress to the next round had already been assured. As for Bosnia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, competing in only their second men’s World Cup, scraped through to the knockouts after a vital 3-1 win over Qatar saw them advance in third place from Group B.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Quick Round of 32 Results So Far
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 28 | Canada vs South Africa | Canada 1-0 |
| Jun 29 | Brazil vs Japan | Brazil 2-1 |
| Jun 29 | Germany vs Paraguay | 1-1 (Paraguay 4-3 on PKs) |
| Jun 29 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 1-1 (Morocco 3-2 on PKs) |
| Jun 30 | Norway vs Ivory Coast | Norway 2-1 |
| Jun 30 | France vs Sweden | France 3-0 |
| Jun 30 | Mexico vs Ecuador | Mexico 2-0 |
| Jul 1 | England vs Congo DR | Today, 9 PM PKT |
| Jul 1 | Belgium vs Senegal | Today, 1 AM PKT (Jul 2) |
| Jul 1 | USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | Today, 5 AM PKT (Jul 2) |
About FIFA World Cup 2026
The tournament is the first to feature 48 teams and to be co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final match is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. For official fixtures and updates, visit the FIFA World Cup 2026 official site or the 2026 FIFA World Cup Wikipedia page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is England vs Congo DR at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
England vs Congo DR is on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Kick-off is at 12:00 PM ET in the USA. For Pakistani fans, that is 9:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) on Wednesday evening.
Where is England vs Congo DR being played?
The match is at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It is one of the top venues at the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer.
Who is England’s top scorer at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Harry Kane is England’s all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 11 goals. He is the player to watch whenever England vs Congo DR is mentioned in knockout stage discussions.
How many teams are in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 features a new expanded format with 48 teams in the group stage. The top teams then enter a newly introduced Round of 32, before the competition moves to the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final on July 19.
