England survives early shock as Mpadi denies Congo equaliser

In the round‑of‑sixteen at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 1 July 2026, England survived an early 0‑1 deficit against DR Congo after Brian Cipenga struck in the seventh minute, while goalkeeper Mpadi repeatedly denied the equaliser. The match, kicked off at 18:00, saw the Congolese side take the lead when Cipenga received a cross from Mbemba and beat Pickford with a powerful shot. England’s Thomas Tuchel’s side piled on chances, but Mpadi’s reflex saves kept the score at 0‑1, including a crucial stop from a Rashford header at the 30th minute. At 42 minutes, Yoane Wissa’s effort rattled the post after a Wan‑Bissaka cross that deviated slightly to O’Reilly before finding Wissa. Jude Bellingham received a yellow card in the 19th minute for a foul on Mbuku, while Noah Sadiki was cautioned in the 27th minute for a handball that produced a free‑kick. The referee, Adham Makhadmeh, added six minutes of stoppage time, during which England appealed for a penalty after a clash with Wissa, but the VAR check yielded no spot‑kick. England’s lineup featured the return of Declan Rice, with Madueke and Spence also starting, while Saka and Rogers were relegated to the bench for the knockout match. Right‑back injuries forced Thomas Tuchel to reconsider his options, as Reece James missed the previous group game with a hamstring and Jarell Quansah suffered an ankle twist in training. Tuchel later said, “Ik ben bezorgd over allebei. Het wordt nipt voor James en Quansah, maar het is onze job om een oplossing te vinden en dat zal ons lukken,” after the injuries were reported. DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre stressed, “We hebben niet veel te verliezen,” noting his side’s 41st world ranking against England’s fourth. He added, “Het was in de eerste plaats al een succes,” referring to Congo’s qualification for the knockout stage after a 52‑year absence. Veteran striker Cédric Bakambu, who has 22 goals in 47 caps for Congo, started the tournament on the bench, while younger forward Yoane Wissa, now of Newcastle, has already contributed with a near‑equaliser. England’s Harry Kane, now with Bayern Munich, entered the match with eleven World Cup goals, one shy of Pelé’s record, and continued to lead the attack. The match’s drama underscored the fine margins of knockout football, with England edging towards the quarter‑finals while DR Congo demonstrated they could challenge a European powerhouse.