England v DR Congo: World Cup 2026 last 32 – live

Key events

1h ago

The teams

2h ago

Preamble

1 min: A fast start by England, and Madueke rolls a pass down the inside-right channel in the hope of releasing Rice into the box. Rice cuts back, but he’s not reached the ball in time. Goal kick. “Oh and well done to DRC for making it bespoke for this game,” adds Paul Griffin. “It’s a germane pennant.”

England get the ball rolling. One heck of an atmosphere in the indoor Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile Paul Griffin announces: “That England pennant is a disgrace. I’m sick of people - probably in Brussels - meddling with our merch and doing risk assessments and that. It’s time to leave the EU. Who will join me on this noble journey? What’s the worst that could happen?”

The teams are out! England in crisp white, the DRC in shimmering blue. There will be anthems. (♬ ♪ ♫ Congo! / Blessed gift, Congo! / Of our forefathers, Congo! / Oh fatherland, Congo! / Oh beloved, Congo! ♬ ♪ ♫ ) There will be fist-bumps. There will be coins tossed. There will be hope. Good luck everyone, we’ll be off in a wee while. “I don’t really know who to support,” begins James Womack. “After taking the place that I hoped would have gone to the glorious Uzbeks, it’s probably DRC, but I have no doubts at all about the music for this evening…”

The great pennant showdown: the aftermath. “Yowzers, that DR Congo pennant is smokin’ hot! They even personalised it for England, whereas England’s just has a generic ‘Round of 32’. Rude!” – Peter Oh

“Is there a subliminal message with an Italian/Irish tone to the Congolese pennant?” – swearing enthusiast / Father Ted fan Wayne Charlton

“Sorry to point out. England need to rethink the eyes and nose of the lions on the pennant. Or I need some serious help” – Agnello Figueiredo

… and in the interests of balance, because at the Guardian we’re nothing if not a broad church …

“I disagree with you on the pennants. While England’s is plain, it is classic and simple. And more importantly, embroidered” – Matt Emerson

Pre-match postbag. “That is a very open expensive side for England. They have struggled against a low block in every game. He needs to be pragmatic enough to make changes faster if it doesn’t work. Wisdom is having a plan B” – Kev The Poet

“Looking at this game and the potential of Mexico at the Azteca in the last 16 it strikes me Thomas Tuchel must be praying that Nico O’Reilly comes through unscathed. The thought of Dan Burn at left back, at altitude, in a sweltering Azteca is terrifying. Well it’s amusing to NUFC fans like me who watch him struggle at left back for us ahead Lewis Hall on occasion. Absolutely baffling selection” – Reuven Fletcher

“I’m now very worried having read the summary of Tuchel’s interview with the BBC just now. How is he surprised they are going to try and copy Ghana? Mainoo is who we need to unlock a low block with little space. Anderson is a great player - but we don’t need a deep holding midfielder today” – John Harrison

“After four years living in DRC, it’s time for me to leave this evening. I’d rather, selfishly for ease of immigration control with my British passport but more for the huge uplift so sorely needed here, an upset. Allez les léopards!” – Dan Owen

“As a Bradford City fan, it’s not often we get to cheer on ‘one of our own’ in an England shirt - in fact, I’ve waited most of my entire 53 years to chant ‘Bradford City’s Jordan Pickford’ (on loan from Sunderland, 2014-15 season). But this time around, I have a nagging unease he may dishonour the claret-and-amber jersey he no doubt still has framed in his trophy room. He’s always been gobby - which I love - but this tournament he’s also looking a bit flappy and out of sorts. Any ideas why? He was lucky not to get a red against Ghana, for starters. Didn’t see much/any of Everton this season (who I believe he’s now reduced to playing for)” – Matt Tempest

The great pennant showdown. It’s not even close. It’s a rout.

Poor Harry must be so embarrassed.

… and it sounds like Jacob Steinberg agrees with Thomas Tuchel’s analysis, because he’s just pinged me this message: “It looks like the DRC have replicated the Ghana lineup.”

Thomas Tuchel speaks to the BBC. “We have everything that is most important … commitment, togetherness, team spirit … we need to arrive in the right mindset … we are well prepared … ready to decide the match in the little moments … Bukayo will finish the match for us today … [we have to be wary of] counter-attacks and physicality … we just saw the line-up and we need to figure it out … now it looks like a completely new formation … they try to copy Ghana in a 4-5-1 … we have a really deep block to drill in and open up … we will be careful in our structure while we attack to not expose ourselves … we will attack with five to six players … four or five have to take care of the coverage … protect against counter attacks … attack with freedom but it is important we are smart … the whole package.”

England have never lost to African opposition at the World Cup … but it’s not always been plain sailing. Ray Wilkins was sent off in a goalless draw with Morocco in the 1986 groups. Egypt were obdurate in the 1990 groups, Mark Wright’s goal the only difference. Cameroon, let’s face it, were the better team in the quarters that year, but ended up losing 3-2 thanks to Gary Lineker’s pair of penalties. England beat Tunisia 2-0 in 1998 and 2-1 in 2018, and Senegal 3-0 in 2022, though the Senegalese paid them back for that last one with a 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground last June, the first-ever victory for Africa in any context against the Three Lions. There also have been goalless draws with Nigeria (2002), Algeria (2010) and now Ghana (last week). History very much on England’s side, then.

The DRC make one change following the 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Striker Cédric Bakambu makes way for an extra midfielder in Ngal’ayel Mukau. There are plenty of stars familiar to fans of British football in the team: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) and Yoane Wissa (Newcastle) start, while Aaron Tshibola (Kilmarnock) and Edo Kayembe (Watford) are on the bench.

No surprises in the England starting XI. Especially if you’ve just read that communiqué from Jacob Steinberg. Thomas Tuchel makes three changes to his starting XI after the 2-0 win over Panama. Djed Spence replaces the injured Jarell Quansah at the problem position of right-back. Declan Rice returns at the expense of Morgan Rogers. And Noni Madueke starts on the right wing again, displacing his Arsenal colleague Bukayo Saka.

The teams

England: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane.

Subs: Dean Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Saka, Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Gordon, Watkins, Eze, Toney, James, Quansah.

DR Congo: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku, Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku, Wissa, Cipenga.

Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Kapuadi, Batubinsika, Bongonda, Kakuta, Joris Kayembe, Elia, Tshibola, Bakambu, Pickel, Mayele, Banza, Kalulu, Edo Kayembe.

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)

Some early team news from Jacob Steinberg, our man in Atlanta. “Team out soon but it’s expected to be Declan Rice in for Morgan Rogers, Djed Spence for the injured Jarell Quansah and Noni Madueke in for Bukayo Saka.”

With still well over an hour until kick-off, you’ll have plenty of spare time on your hands. Let us therefore point you in the direction of Guardian puzzles, now featuring a new limited-edition daily puzzle to guess the international footballer: On the ball: world stage. What are you waiting for? Off you go, the MBM will still be here when you get back.

It would be remiss of us not to mention the hopes and dreams of the DRC’s opponents England as well. You want triple-leonine-infused copy? We got triple-leonine-infused copy!

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are competing in their second World Cup. It’s been a much more successful campaign than the first, which they competed as Zaire in 1974: four points and a positive goal difference, compared to zero points, no goals scored and 14 conceded. No wonder, then, that belief in the DRC squad ahead of the biggest match in their history is high.

Here’s how the Democratic Republic of the Congo plotted their way through Group K. A first-ever World Cup finals goal, a first-ever World Cup finals point, and then on from there.

A reminder of how England made their way through Group L. They weren’t the best of times, neither were they the worst of times.

Preamble

Number four in the Fifa rankings plays number 41 … and then when you factor in the roll-call of talent England boast, they’re winning this game more often than not. But hold on! This round has already thrown up one shock, with Paraguay (world number 41 at the time) condemning Germany (number 10) to their first spot-kick defeat since the days of Antonín Panenka. DR Congo have already held Portugal (world number five at the time) to a draw at this World Cup, and given Colombia (number 11) a good game. And taking everything in the round, the Democratic Republic of the Congo are betting with house money today, kind of, because …

Whatever happens against Thomas Tuchel’s team, this World Cup has already been a success. Not just because the Leopards made it to the last 32. It is also because, for a few weeks, football reminded millions of people that, despite war, division, politics and history, they still belong to the same story: a shared DRC.

… and that’s an article that really is worth your time. Get on it. So will England book their last-16 match with Mexico at the famous Azteca, or are we about to witness one of the great World Cup jaw-droppers? It’s going to be fun finding out. Kick-off in Atlanta is 12pm local/5pm BST/1am AEST. It’s on!