Kane’s double saves England from World Cup embarrassment
England secured a dramatic victory against DR Congo in the World Cup 2026 last-32 tie, largely due to the performance of captain Harry Kane. The match, played in Atlanta, saw England trailing until late in the game before Kane scored two goals to ensure progression to the last 16.
The win means England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the next round at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Head coach Thomas Tuchel joined the celebrations on the pitch following the decisive goals.
Kane’s pivotal performance
Harry Kane scored an equaliser with a header with 15 minutes remaining, beating goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. He then secured the 2-1 victory with four minutes left, receiving a pass from substitute Anthony Gordon and striking the ball past Mpasi.
This performance was critical for England, with Tuchel acknowledging Kane’s role. Kane now has five goals in this World Cup, placing him among the top scorers alongside players like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi. Tuchel described these players as “sharks,” noting their competitive drive.
Kane’s goals against DR Congo moved him to joint sixth on the all-time World Cup scorers list, surpassing Pele. He also reached 84 goals for England, drawing level with Ferenc Puskas on the all-time international scorers list. He is the first England player to score twice in a World Cup knockout stage match since Gary Lineker in 1990, and now has five knockout stage goals in the tournament, with only Lineker having more for England.
Team-mates praised Kane’s consistent high-level play. Jude Bellingham expressed pride in playing alongside Kane, while Anthony Gordon highlighted Kane’s consistent performance in training and matches, stating his season has only been surpassed by Lionel Messi.
England players’ ratings from the match reflected the team’s initial struggles and Kane’s impact. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defenders Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi received lower ratings, with concerns raised about defensive space. Midfielders like Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice had challenging nights, though Rice attempted to impose himself and moved to right-back later in the game. Jude Bellingham tried to inject energy despite being booked.
Substitutes Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze made positive contributions, with Gordon assisting both of Kane’s goals. Lionel Mpasi, the DR Congo goalkeeper, was noted for making five saves and was considered the player of the match by some assessments.
Challenges ahead in Mexico City
The victory sets up a challenging last-16 encounter for England against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. Mexico has a strong home record, having lost only two of their past 89 competitive games at the stadium, and they are unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches there.
England will also face the challenge of playing at an altitude of over 7,000ft, a significant change from their previous matches in enclosed stadiums in Dallas and Atlanta, and in Boston and New York New Jersey Stadium. The team anticipates a hostile environment with passionate local support.
The match against Mexico will take place in the iconic Azteca Stadium.
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Source: bbc.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
