- England have won seven, drawn two and lost one of their last ten matches in all competitions.
- DR Congo have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five matches.
- DR Congo have won one, drawn three and lost two of their last six away matches in all competitions.
Knockout clash is no stroll for England
England are an easy bet to beat DR Congo in this newly formed World Cup knockout clash at Atlanta Stadium, but the Three Lions should not assume their opponents are just one-way traffic. The odds of 1.29 on the Three Lions are way too short for a match where the stakes are all about progression, but a draw at 5.0 is a solid play because Sebastien Desabre's Leopards can be awkward customers.
The DR Congo coach has had the team since 8 August 2022, so there is a very clear identity to the squad - one that sits compact, defends narrow and can counterattack quickly, especially when the game opens up in transition. Their 4-3-3 base, which morphs into a back five when out of possession, is designed to soak pressure and then hit straight, through the wide channels.
DR Congo's last three FIFA World Cup Group K 2026 results are telling - 1-1 away to Portugal, 1-0 away to Colombia and 3-1 to Uzbekistan. They clearly can make it difficult for top-level opposition and won't be overawed in America. They have scored five times in their last five games with Yoane Wissa contributing three of them, so the Rennes forward is their main livewire.
Tuchel's team are tough to break down too
Thomas Tuchel's England team are also tough to unlock and the German has had the squad playing with structure, flexibility and sharp positional rotations since taking over on 1 January 2025. The coach has them using trigger-based pressing. His 4-2-3-1 can morph into a defensive back three when they have the ball, which should see them overload the half-spaces. England's all-competition record is superior to their recent away form, but the 0-2 win in Panama shows they can still travel with authority. England's form is seven wins, two draws and one defeat in their last ten in all competitions, so the Three Lions are definitely on a hot streak at the right time. They are clear favourites.
DR Congo can be dangerous on the counter
England's recent two FIFA World Cup, Group L 2026 results, a 0-0 draw with Ghana followed by a 0-2 away win against Panama, suggest they are not only a dominant side. But, given DR Congo's recent five-match sequence of one win, two draws and two defeats, the Leopards are a little patchy.
So the conclusion from all the above is that the market has England about right - if anything, they are a bit short - but there is a low-risk angle on Both Teams To Score set to No at 1.49. England have scored six times in their last five, with Harry Kane two of them, and so will be capable of making the breakthrough.
DR Congo have enough steel and counterpunch power to make it awkward, so this has all the feel of a competitive cup tie that England are more likely to win by controlling proceedings.
