England will face Mexico in the World Cup last 16 on Monday after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in Atlanta. Captain Harry Kane scored twice in the second half to overturn an early deficit and secure the win.
Kane's Late Heroics Secure Victory
Brian Cipenga put DR Congo ahead in the seventh minute, and the Leopards held the lead for much of the match as goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made a series of outstanding saves. England struggled to break through until Kane equalised in the 75th minute, then scored the winner in the 86th minute. The skipper described the performance as his “hero moment”.
Royal and Political Praise
The Prince of Wales, patron of the Football Association, posted a tribute on Instagram: “Never in doubt… well done England! Onto the next! W.” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: “It might actually be coming home,” suggesting the victory could lead to World Cup glory.
Beckham and Gallagher Join Tributes
Former England captain David Beckham shared a photo of Kane on Instagram, calling him a “true leader” and praising the team as “absolutely brilliant”. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher posted: “Cmon England cmon Wonderwall” as fans sang the song in stadiums and at Boxpark Wembley.
Next Match: Mexico at High Altitude
England will play co-hosts Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium, a famous venue at high altitude, in front of a passionate home crowd. The match kicks off early on Monday. Thomas Tuchel’s side will need to adapt to the conditions.
Fan Reactions and Impact on Daily Life
Tony Woods, from St Helens, Merseyside, who watched the game in Atlanta, said: “We struggled first half but once Harry got that one (goal), there was only one winner wasn’t there?” He added: “I watched Mexico last night and was a bit worried. But I just think we’ve got a bit of dog in us and we’ll do it. I wouldn’t say I’m not nervous, but I think we’ll do it 2-1 against Mexico, no problem.”
Traffic data from TomTom showed fans rushed home early for the 5pm kick-off. In London, congestion at 4pm was 76% (up from 73% the previous day), dropping to 57% by 6pm (down from 72%). In Birmingham, congestion at 4pm was 125% (up from 100%), falling to 53% at 6pm (down from 90%). Mobile phone usage also spiked as fans streamed the match during commutes.
