England and DR Congo will face each other in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 playoffs. England enters the match as the clear favorites: they won their group with seven points and a 6-2 goal difference, conceding only to Croatia. Thomas Tuchel's side have demonstrated pragmatic football, with under 2.5 goals betting on two of their three matches at the tournament. They have been solid defensively, even without Maguire, and the presence of players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham allows them to capitalize on opportunities near the opponent's goal. DR Congo, meanwhile, was one of the tournament's revelations, reaching the playoffs for the first time in their history, but their journey has been more difficult: one win, a draw, and a loss in the group.
The DR Congo team, coached by Sébastien Desabres, relies on a disciplined defense and quick counterattacks. The Leopards have already proven their resilience, managing to take points from Portugal (1-1) and losing to Colombia by just one goal (0-1). England's key threat is forward Yohan Wissa, who has scored three goals in the tournament. However, DR Congo's challenge lies in playing against top opponents: they rarely score, and their attacking potential is significantly inferior to England's. Considering that England has conceded only two goals in three group matches, while DR Congo averages just over a goal per game, penetrating the Three Lions' defense will be extremely difficult.
Given the difference in class, playing philosophy, and current form, the most likely scenario is a clean sheet for England. England will control possession and look for openings in their opponents' dense defense, while DR Congo will likely focus on defense. A close match, decided by a single strike, is likely to result in an England victory.
