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2026 FIFA World Cup™: DR Congo vs. England – Preview, How to Watch

By Rachel Chesbrough
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2026 FIFA World Cup™: DR Congo vs. England – Preview, How to Watch

DR Congo meets England in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.

  • Time: 12:00 PM ET
  • Location: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA
  • TV Channels: FOX, Telemundo

How to Watch DR Congo vs. England on July 1, 2026

You can watch England take on DR Congo live on DIRECTV on FOX and Telemundo on July 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.

DR Congo vs. England — Round of 32 Match Preview

DR Congo and England meet in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, with a Quarterfinal place on the line. England arrived here as Group L winners with a 2-1-0 record, while DR Congo advanced from Group K as one of the tournament’s best third-place finishers — a 1-1-1 mark that was enough to carry them into the knockout rounds. The English have a clear pedigree edge: this is their 8th consecutive World Cup and their 1966 title still stands as the only major tournament trophy they have ever won, a fact that sharpens Thomas Tuchel’s mandate considerably. DR Congo’s story runs in a completely different direction — this is only their 2nd World Cup appearance and their first since 1974, when they represented the continent as Zaire. In those three 1974 matches they conceded 0-14 on aggregate, meaning they reach this round without a single World Cup win in their history. Coach Sebastien Desabre’s side qualified through the intercontinental playoff, where Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute goal against Jamaica sent them here. One player threading the two camps together gives the matchup a pointed subplot: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the West Ham right-back who was born in England and trained in the English system before switching his international allegiance to DR Congo, lines up against the nation that once had a claim on him. England’s attack, anchored by Harry Kane — who put up 36 goals and 5 assists across 25 Bundesliga starts for Bayern Munich this season — enters the match with the kind of club form that makes DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup win an enormous ask.

National TV

FOX, Telemundo

What Time is the England vs. DR Congo Match Today?

The DR Congo vs. England match starts at 12:00 PM ET.

Where Can I Watch DR Congo vs. England?

You can watch DR Congo vs. England on FOX and Telemundo.

Players to Watch: DR Congo vs. England

DR Congo

Cedric Bakambu — Striker. Bakambu is the focal point of DR Congo’s attack, and his club form with Real Betis this season gives you a sense of what the English defense is dealing with: 3 goals and 1 assist across 5 LaLiga starts, with 21 shots showing a forward who doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. Against a knockout opponent, his ability to hold the ball and draw fouls could prove just as valuable as his finishing.

Yoane Wissa — Forward. Wissa brings Premier League sharpness to this match, having managed 1 goal and 1 assist across 4 Premier League starts for Newcastle this season while generating 13 shots — a high-volume output for a player who didn’t always start. His familiarity with English defenders, having faced them week in and week out in the Premier League, is a genuine edge DR Congo can exploit on the break.

Chancel Mbemba — Centre-back. With 107 caps, Mbemba is DR Congo’s captain and the steadying presence at the back for a side that knows defensive discipline is its path to a result.The Lille defender made 9 Ligue 1 starts this season  — the kind of ball-playing composure from deep that helps a defensively-minded team keep possession when it matters.

England

Harry Kane — Striker. England’s captain and all-time top scorer arrives in this match off one of the most productive club seasons any England striker has ever put together: 36 goals and 5 assists in 25 Bundesliga starts for Bayern Munich, with 119 shots reflecting a relentlessness in front of goal. Kane’s positioning and movement in tight spaces is the kind of problem DR Congo’s defense hasn’t seen at this level since 1974.

Jude Bellingham — Midfielder. Six goals and 4 assists across 22 LaLiga starts for Real Madrid this season doesn’t fully capture what Bellingham does — 51 shots tells a fuller story of a midfielder who arrives in dangerous areas and demands attention from every line of the opposition. His ability to drive forward from deep and arrive late into the penalty area makes him as much a goal threat as a creator.

Bukayo Saka — Winger. Saka finished the Arsenal season with 7 goals and 5 assists across 26 Premier League starts and 71 shots — numbers that reflect a wide attacker who combines directness with volume. His movement across the channels stretches defenses horizontally and opens the spaces that Kane and Bellingham run into; if DR Congo commits to stopping one of them, Saka is the player who punishes the oversight.

Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Soccer Live on DIRECTV

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