England stays in contention at 2026 World Cup after round‑of‑32 win

England reached the last‑16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating DR Congo 2‑1 in the round of 32. The victory, secured by a late Harry Kane strike, was described as functional rather than spectacular but kept the Three Lions’ campaign alive. New coach Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024, has emphasized structure, pragmatism and squad depth, allowing England to rotate players such as Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice without a noticeable drop in quality.

The team continues to shoulder the long‑standing “It’s coming home” chant that has followed England since 1996, while fans weigh the high expectations against a history of early exits. England’s next challenge is expected to be against host nation Mexico, whose defensive record and home‑crowd advantage pose a fresh test.

Overall, England’s progress combines solid defensive organization, the goal‑scoring threat of Kane—who is among the tournament’s leading scorers—and the tactical discipline introduced by Tuchel, keeping the nation’s hopes for a deep run alive.