England vs. DR Congo Picks – World Cup Round of 32 Betting Preview, Team News, and Predictions (Jul 1) 

• When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026. 12:00 PM ET
• Where: Atlanta Stadium, USA
• How to Watch: FOX

England vs. DR Congo World Cup Preview

Thomas Tuchel’s England will be aiming to reignite their hopes of winning the FIFA World Cup as the round of 32 stage gets underway on July 1. The Three Lions will be heavily favored to overcome a potentially sticky assignment against DR Congo, but England will need to play much better than they have in their previous two encounters.

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England Stats & Team News

Thomas Tuchel looked incredibly frustrated on the touchline in England’s most recent clash against Panama, as the Three Lions struggled to break down a compact defensive line for the second match running. However, the world-class talent within the squad was crucial, with Jude Bellingham creating the moment of magic to register an assist and a goal in the 2-0 win.

Just like at EURO 2024, the Three Lions are relying on moments to get them through the tournament, as there looks to be a disconnect between the spine of the squad. Declan Rice will return to the starting eleven on Wednesday, but Reece James and Jarrell Quansah are unlikely to feature again at the tournament this summer due to injury.

Likely Lineup:

(4-2-3-1) Pickford (GK); Spence, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane

DR Congo Stats & Team News

History has already been made by DR Congo this summer, as the African nation has progressed to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Credit can be taken from their Group K performances, including a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Portugal, and a battling 1-0 loss against Colombia.

A first-ever win at the World Cup was achieved on MD3, with Yoane Wissa scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. DR Congo were strong offensively in that win, as they dominated the ball. However, they will likely revert to a deep defensive structure to stifle England on Wednesday, and it is worth noting that they got success against Portugal with the same tactic.

Likely Lineup:

(4-4-2) Mpasi (GK); Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Cipenga, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku; Bakambu, Wissa

Head-to-Head Stats

• This will be the first ever meeting between England and DR Congo.
• The Three Lions lost to African opposition for the first time ever last summer (3-1 vs. Senegal).

England vs. DR Congo World Cup Picks

England has struggled to break down deep defensive blocks, but there is an expectation that the team will improve once the knockout stage gets underway. Therefore, we expect to see a professional display from the Three Lions, with Tuchel’s side winning 2-0 on Wednesday.

• England (-353)