Harry Kane delivered when England needed him most, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to rescue a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo and book the Three Lions' place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Thomas Tuchel's side endured one of its toughest tests of the tournament at Atlanta Stadium after falling behind just seven minutes into the match. Brian Cipenga stunned England with an early goal, exposing defensive frailties and putting the African side on course for one of the biggest upsets of the competition.

England created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match but repeatedly found themselves frustrated by an inspired performance from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his team in front for much of the game.

With time running out, captain Harry Kane once again proved decisive. The striker equalized in the 75th minute with a close-range header from Anthony Gordon's cross before sealing the comeback with a powerful finish from a tight angle, completing a memorable turnaround.

The victory sends England into the Round of 16, where they will face Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The matchup promises to be one of the marquee fixtures of the knockout stage, with England aiming to continue its quest for a second World Cup title and Mexico hoping to capitalize on home support.

Kane's two-goal performance also takes him to five goals in the tournament, strengthening his position among the competition's leading scorers and reaffirming his importance to Tuchel's squad.

Despite the victory, England will know there is room for improvement. Defensive lapses, missed chances, and periods of disorganization nearly cost the team its World Cup campaign before Kane's late heroics changed the outcome.

For DR Congo, the defeat ends an inspiring run that captured the imagination of fans around the world. The tournament newcomers pushed one of football's traditional powers to the limit and leave the competition with their heads held high after a courageous performance.

England, meanwhile, advances with renewed confidence but will face a much sterner challenge against Mexico in one of the most anticipated Round of 16 clashes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.