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England won Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Three Lions face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Round of 16 on July 1, 2026, kicking off at 16:00 UTC from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The injury situation England did not want
Harry Kane dealt with a minor calf cramp but has been cleared to play.
Tino Livramento has withdrawn from the squad entirely due to a calf injury, with Trevor Chalobah called up as his replacement. Reece James is dealing with a hamstring injury that puts his participation in serious doubt, not just for this match but potentially for the rest of the tournament.
A historic first meeting, and what DR Congo bring to it
England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have never faced each other in competitive international football.
This is the first time the central African nation has reached the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup. They arrived at this stage as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament, advancing out of Group F after a 2-1 victory over Turkey that sealed their progression.
What this means for England’s World Cup ambitions
England topped Group A. Chalobah is a central defender by trade, not a natural fullback, and faces a selection puzzle on the right side of defense. Mercedes-Benz Stadium seats over 70,000.
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