England vs. DR Congo Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Use Code SSWC England and DR Congo meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday at 12:00 PM ET on FOX. England topped its group with seven points after defeating Croatia and Panama while playing Ghana to a scoreless draw. DR Congo reached the knockout stage after collecting four points in Group K, including a draw with Portugal and a victory over Uzbekistan. England is unbeaten in its last 11 competitive matches under Thomas Tuchel, while DR Congo is making its first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout stage. Check out today's free World Cup picks.
England Looking to Continue Its Strong Tournament
England has put together another impressive World Cup campaign. The Three Lions opened with a 4-2 victory over Croatia before settling for a 0-0 draw against Ghana. They closed group play with a comfortable 2-0 win over Panama to finish first in the group. England averaged 2.00 goals per match while allowing just 0.67 goals and ranked among the tournament leaders with 66% possession.
Harry Kane continues to lead England's attack with three goals through three matches, while Jude Bellingham has added two goals and one assist. Bukayo Saka has contributed two assists, and Elliot Anderson has been outstanding in midfield, leading England in line-breaking passes, possessions won, and duels won during the group stage. England has also created consistent scoring opportunities, averaging 1.92 expected goals while allowing only 0.55 expected goals per match.
Thomas Tuchel's side enters this match unbeaten in 11 competitive fixtures as England manager with 10 wins and one draw. England has won four of its last five matches overall, including friendly victories over Costa Rica and New Zealand before the tournament. The Three Lions continue to combine defensive organization with plenty of attacking quality entering the knockout rounds.
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Injuries: No injuries have been reported for England.
DR Congo Chasing More History
DR Congo has already enjoyed a memorable tournament by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. The Leopards opened with an impressive 1-1 draw against Portugal before narrowly losing 1-0 to Colombia. They secured qualification by defeating Uzbekistan, showing toughness that has defined their tournament run. DR Congo averaged 1.33 goals per match while remaining competitive against every opponent in Group K.
Yoane Wissa has carried the attack with three of DR Congo's four tournament goals. Arthur Masuaku has added an assist from the back line, while Brian Cipenga impressed during his World Cup debut against Uzbekistan. The Leopards have relied on disciplined defending and quick counterattacks rather than controlling possession, averaging just 44% of the ball during group play.
Coach Sébastien Desabre's squad understands the challenge ahead against one of the tournament favorites, but confidence remains high after advancing from a difficult group. Captain Chancel Mbemba anchors a defense that will be tested throughout the match, while Wissa gives DR Congo the ability to capitalize if England leaves space on the counterattack.
Injuries: No injuries have been reported for DR Congo.
Recent Head-to-Head
This will be the first meeting between England and DR Congo. England has won its previous two World Cup knockout matches against African opponents, defeating Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2022. DR Congo is playing its first-ever World Cup knockout match and becomes the 11th African nation to face a former World Cup champion in the knockout stage.
England vs. DR Congo Match Pick
- England -1.5 (+110)
England has been one of the tournament's most balanced teams, combining patient possession with one of the strongest defensive records in the field. Kane and Bellingham continue to lead an attack capable of scoring in multiple ways, while England has consistently controlled matches through midfield. DR Congo deserves plenty of credit for reaching the knockout stage and has shown enough resilience to stay competitive, but England's depth, experience, and overall quality should prove too much over 90 minutes. Expect the Three Lions to control possession and open a multi-goal in the second half.
England vs. DR Congo Over/Under Pick
- Under 2.5 Goals (-110)
England has allowed only two goals through three World Cup matches and has shown a willingness to remain patient once it takes the lead. DR Congo has defended well throughout the tournament and will likely sit deep while looking for opportunities to counter through Wissa. The Leopards have enough organization to keep this match competitive for long stretches, making a lower-scoring knockout contest the most likely outcome. A 2-0 England is the likely outcome for this Round of 32 matchup.
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