England’s football fixtures begin with a live last-32 tie against DR Congo on One and iPlayer, and the match is set for Wednesday in Atlanta at 17:00 BST. Thomas Tuchel takes his side into the knockout round after England beat Panama to finish as group winners.
Thomas Tuchel and Atlanta
Tuchel’s task is straightforward on paper: get England through a round of 32 tie that arrives with a clear broadcast route and a fixed kick-off. The will carry all 16 first-knockout-round games across its coverage, giving viewers a full slate rather than a single featured match.
England’s meeting with DR Congo also gives the knockout round an immediate edge. DR Congo drew with Portugal in the group stage before beating Uzbekistan 3-1, so this is not a soft draw for a side that already arrived in the round of 32 as group winners.
One and iPlayer
The live feed for England will sit on One and iPlayer, while every other first-round knockout match has a broadcast route of its own. One will also show the United States against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday at 01:00, Norway against Ivory Coast on Tuesday at 18:00, Germany against Paraguay on Monday at 21:30, and Egypt against Australia on Friday at 19:00.
That split leaves the full knockout round spread across the and ITV, with eight last-32 matches each. For viewers, the practical benefit is simple: England is on the main TV and streaming platforms, but the rest of the round is still available through the wider schedule.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric
The rest of the bracket carries its own pull. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal face Luka Modric’s Croatia on Friday at 00:00, Spain meet Austria on Thursday at 20:00, and Switzerland play Algeria on Friday at 04:00.
There is also a complication inside that appeal. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric are both turning 41 this year, and with both Portugal and Croatia in the knockout round, the schedule carries the feel of a final run for one of them even as the tournament moves on.
For England followers, the immediate job is simpler: tune in on Wednesday at 17:00 BST, or use iPlayer if the TV slot does not fit. The rest of the first knockout round will be available across Radio 5 Live and Sounds for live commentary, the Sport website and app for text and analysis, and spoiler-free highlights each morning.
