England vs DR Congo Live: Congo Takes An Early Lead

ATLANTA: The Atlanta Stadium witnessed absolute pandemonium tonight as the Democratic Republic of Congo tore up the script, taking a stunning, deserved early lead against England in a breathless FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.

Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions entered the single-elimination tie as heavy statistical favorites, but they were left utterly shell-shocked. It took just six minutes for the Leopards to blow the match wide open. Capitalizing on a sluggish, disjointed English backline, defensive rock Chancel Mbemba delivered an exquisite, defense-splitting pass to Brian Cipenga, who coolly slotted the ball past a helpless Jordan Pickford.

Rather than sitting back on their laurels, Sébastien Desabre’s men pressed on with ferocious intensity. In a staggering opening fifteen minutes, the underdogs suffocated the pitch, commanding an unbelievable 74% of live ball possession. 

England's elite midfield duo of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were completely overrun, reduced to mere spectators as DR Congo dictated the tempo.Tuchel’s tournament strategy is facing its ultimate tactical crisis. England's experimental 4-2-3-1 setup lacks any semblance of structural cohesion. 

Upfront, a starved Harry Kane and an isolated Marcus Rashford have found themselves entirely locked down by a rigid Congolese defense marshaled by Premier League-experienced Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Watch England vs DR Congo live on tapmad.