England World Cup fixtures now begin with DR Congo in Atlanta after Thomas Tuchel’s side topped Group L on seven points. England drew with Ghana and beat Croatia and Panama to finish first and move into the World Cup knockout stage with the bracket now mapped out.
Tuchel’s Group L finish
Seven points from three matches was enough for England to win Group L. Tuchel’s team did the job by drawing with Ghana and beating Croatia and Panama, then turned that finish into a knockout tie against DR Congo.
That route matters because group winners do not wait for the bracket to settle. Once England finished first, their first elimination match became clear: DR Congo in Atlanta.
DR Congo’s first knockout step
DR Congo reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time, and they did it after finishing third in Group K. They drew with Portugal, lost to Colombia and beat Uzbekistan, then carried a record built on just three goals conceded in three group-stage matches into the next round.
Yoane Wissa gives that side a Premier League name in attack, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku add experience from Newcastle, West Ham, Burnley and Sunderland. DR Congo are 46th in the world, but the path they have taken leaves England with a far less routine opponent than a group-table line might suggest.
Mexico waits if England advance
If England get through Atlanta, Mexico would be next in Mexico City at The Estadio Azteca. Mexico won all three of their group-stage fixtures, booked their place with a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Wednesday morning, and have not conceded a goal at the World Cup.
They have allowed just six shots on target across those games, are ranked ninth in the world and have not lost a competitive fixture since a 2-0 defeat by Honduras in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final in November 2024. The Estadio Azteca sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level and holds 87,500, so England’s route is set, but the next step could take them from Atlanta to one of the toughest venues left in the competition.
