If England beat Congo, when is the next game? England already know the answer in outline: DR Congo in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel’s side topped Group L with seven points, and the group win moved them straight into the knockout stage with their first elimination tie now set.
England and DR Congo in Atlanta
England drew with Ghana and beat Croatia and Panama to finish first in Group L. That left them with seven points from three matches and a knockout route that now begins against DR Congo in Atlanta.
Tuchel’s team got the cleanest possible reward for winning the group. The opener is fixed, and the opponent is a side that advanced from Group K after drawing with Portugal, losing to Colombia and beating Uzbekistan.
Yoane Wissa and DR Congo
DR Congo enter the knockout stage for the first time, and they arrive with a profile that is harder to dismiss than the place in the table suggests. They are ranked 46th in the world, conceded only three goals in their three group-stage fixtures, and have Yoane Wissa among the players with Premier League experience.
Wissa is one part of a back line and attack that also includes Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku. That mix matters because England’s route may become much tougher if they progress beyond Atlanta, with Mexico and Ecuador sitting further along the path.
Mexico, Ecuador and the route
Mexico won all three of their group-stage fixtures and are ranked ninth in the world. They have not lost a competitive fixture since a 2-0 defeat by Honduras in November 2024, and their unbeaten run in competitive matches is 12 matches.
Ecuador also sit in the way if England keep moving. They finished third in Group E after a 2-1 win over Germany in the final round of matches, and they have not conceded more than one goal in any match in over two years. That run stretches across 26 games.
For England, the immediate answer is simple: DR Congo in Atlanta. The harder question comes after that, because the group win has opened the bracket, but the next rounds can tighten fast.
