England are through to the World Cup 2026 last 16 after edging DR Congo 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but it was far closer than the scoreline suggests. Axel Tuanzebe admitted his side let a golden chance slip in the first half, and that mistake ended up costing DR Congo their tournament.
A First Half DR Congo Will Regret
DR Congo controlled large spells of the opening 45 minutes and created enough chances to have gone into the break with a lead. Instead, England stayed level and grew into the game, eventually turning the tie in their favor. Tuanzebe pointed directly to that spell as the moment the match slipped away.
‘We should have finished them off in the first half,’ Tuanzebe said. ‘We had our chances and we didn’t take them. Now we’re kicking ourselves because we know we were the better team for large parts of that game.’
Tuanzebe: ‘We’re Kicking Ourselves’
The Manchester United academy product was one of DR Congo’s standout performers throughout the tournament, and his post-match comments reflected genuine frustration rather than excuse-making. He didn’t blame the officiating, the pitch, or fatigue — just missed opportunities at the wrong moment.
That kind of honesty has defined DR Congo’s World Cup run. The Leopards arrived in the United States as one of the tournament’s feel-good stories, and their exit at the hands of England, while painful, came after a performance that earned respect rather than criticism.
Desabre Praises a Brave DR Congo Despite the Exit
Head coach Sebastien Desabre struck a different tone after the final whistle, choosing to highlight his team’s courage rather than dwell on the missed chances. He described a squad that competed with a top footballing nation for 90 minutes and gave everything on the biggest stage in the sport.
Desabre’s message matters heading into DR Congo’s next cycle: this group proved it belongs at World Cup level, even if the scoreline in Atlanta didn’t go their way.
What’s Next for England at World Cup 2026
The win keeps England’s World Cup 2026 campaign alive and sends them into the last 16 with confidence, even if the performance wasn’t the dominant display some fans expected against a team ranked well below them. Facing a DR Congo side that pushed them for large stretches will serve as a useful reality check before the knockout rounds intensify.
England now shift focus to preparing for their next opponent, knowing that games at this level rarely play out as comfortably as the final score suggests.
FAQ
What was the final score in England vs DR Congo?
England won 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, eliminating DR Congo from the World Cup 2026.
Is DR Congo out of the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, the 2-1 loss to England ended their tournament run.
What did Axel Tuanzebe say after the match?
Tuanzebe said DR Congo were ‘kicking ourselves’ for not converting first-half chances that could have put them ahead before England grew into the game.
Where was England vs DR Congo played?
The match was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
What did coach Sebastien Desabre say about DR Congo’s performance?
Desabre praised his players’ bravery, saying the team competed with a top footballing nation for 90 minutes despite the elimination.
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