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England face DR Congo in World Cup round of 32 as Three Lions enter knockout stage

England's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign reaches the knockout rounds as the Three Lions prepare to face DR Congo in the round of 32, their first elimination match of the tournament.

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England face DR Congo in World Cup round of 32 as Three Lions enter knockout stage
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England will face DR Congo in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the Three Lions’ first knockout match of the tournament.

Gareth Southgate’s side — or whoever leads England into the competition — must now navigate the elimination stage of a World Cup that spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A defeat ends England’s campaign entirely, raising the stakes considerably compared to the group-stage fixtures that preceded it.

England’s only World Cup triumph remains the 1966 final, when Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, and Geoff Hurst helped the Three Lions defeat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley. That victory has stood as the high-water mark of English football for nearly six decades, and each tournament since has carried the weight of that history.

DR Congo’s presence in the round of 32 represents a significant moment for African football at a World Cup expanded to 48 teams, with the enlarged format giving more nations a route into the latter stages of the competition.

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