England will face DR Congo in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, July 1, at 5pm BST. The match takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, which has a capacity of 71,000 for football matches and is expected to draw tens of thousands of supporters from both nations.
TV Coverage and Live Stream
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live and free of charge on BBC One. Coverage begins at 4pm BST, hosted by Mark Chapman alongside pundits Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney, and Micah Richards. Fans can also stream the match via BBC iPlayer on computers, smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs.
For viewers in the United States, the game will be shown on FOX and FS1, with streaming options available on Fubo, Sling TV, and Peacock.
Radio and Team News
Radio coverage in the UK is available on BBC Radio 5 Live, providing full live audio commentary. England manager Thomas Tuchel faces a defensive headache as right-back Reece James is officially out due to injury, and his replacement Jarell Quansah is a major doubt after picking up a knock against Panama. However, Declan Rice has been cleared to play after concerns over a minor calf problem.
DR Congo, known as the Leopards, report no significant new injury concerns. Head coach Sebastien Desabre will rely on key players including Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa and captain Chancel Mbemba to challenge England.
Head-to-Head History
This is the first-ever meeting between England and DR Congo in men's international football. England has greater tournament pedigree, while DR Congo is appearing at only their second World Cup and their first knockout match in the competition's history.
