3 goals that sent DR Congo into England's path

Atlanta Stadium began with a warning shot, then a hush, then a roar that kept building after half-time. Uzbekistan struck first through Eldor Shomurodov, but DR Congo answered with three second-half goals to win 3-1. The result sent the Leopards into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, where England now wait in Atlanta on Wednesday at 17:00 BST. It was also DR Congo's first World Cup victory, delivered after a comeback that changed the shape of Group K.

How Events Unfolded

Uzbekistan almost landed the first blow inside the opening minute, only for Shomurodov's finish to be ruled out for offside. He did not wait long for a cleaner moment. In the 10th minute, after defensive confusion involving Lionel Mpasi and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Uzbekistan captain lifted a lob over the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

DR Congo thought they had responded quickly when Nathanael Mbuku fired in a left-footed strike, but a VAR review ruled the goal out after Mbuku was judged to have caught Sherzod Nasrullaev in the face during the build-up. The decision mattered because DR Congo needed a win to progress, and the first half was drifting away from them.

The shift came after the break. Yoane Wissa was tripped in the area by Abdukodir Khusanov, then converted the penalty in the 68th minute. Ten minutes later, substitute Fiston Mayele reacted first to a deflected Meschack Elia shot and flicked the ball past Abduvohid Nematov. Wissa then sealed it in stoppage time, curling in from the edge of the box to complete a result covered by the BBC's live match report.

Under the Surface

The comeback was not a random burst. DR Congo had already shown resilience in Group K, drawing with Portugal before losing narrowly to Colombia. Against Uzbekistan, the statistics backed up the late pressure: TNT Sports listed DR Congo with 58% possession, 19 shots and 487 total passes, compared with Uzbekistan's three shots and 355 passes.

That matters for England. Thomas Tuchel's side are not facing a sentimental underdog with one big night behind them; they are facing a team that has survived pressure, stayed compact, and found a forward in Wissa who is now on three World Cup goals. Sky Sports described DR Congo as a side built on not losing, and the evidence in Atlanta was clear: they absorbed the setback, waited for the opening, then punished mistakes.

Voices & Opinions

DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre framed the night around response and preparation rather than celebration alone.

We have to congratulate the players - they were the ones who were extraordinary.

Desabre also said his side would begin preparing immediately for England, adding that players based at English clubs would help the squad get ready. That detail is relevant because several of DR Congo's key figures know the tempo and physical demands England will bring.

We need to enjoy this kind of game. We deserve to play against England. One of the best in the world. So yeah, I'm looking forward to what's coming next.

Uzbekistan manager Fabio Cannavaro, meanwhile, pointed to the punishment that comes with small errors at World Cup level.

The World Cup is brutal.

Putting It in Perspective

For DR Congo, this was history on two fronts: a first World Cup win and a first place in the knockout stage. The Guardian reported that the team had returned to the tournament after a 52-year absence, making the scale of the moment sharper for supporters who filled Atlanta with noise after Mayele's goal.

The wider African story is hard to miss. The Athletic reported that DR Congo became the 11th African nation to advance from a World Cup group stage, and the fifth to do so for the first time in 2026. For GB readers, the immediate point is simpler: England's route has become awkward. DR Congo are not expected to dominate the ball against England, but they have already shown they can stay alive long enough to make one mistake count.

Uzbekistan leave with no points from their first World Cup, but Shomurodov's goal gave them a moment that will travel home with the team. Their tournament exposed the gap between reaching the finals and surviving them.

Looking Ahead

DR Congo will face England in Atlanta on Wednesday at 17:00 BST. The match is confirmed as a round-of-32 tie after DR Congo finished third in Group K.

England's task is to control a side that has already frustrated stronger-looking opponents and now carries momentum. Wissa's finishing, Mayele's penalty-box instincts and DR Congo's defensive discipline will shape the build-up. The winner moves deeper into the knockout bracket; the loser goes home.