England have qualified for the World Cup round of 32 as group winners after a 2-0 victory over Panama. The Three Lions secured top spot in Group L, ensuring they will face DR Congo in the knockout phase.
Match Details
England went into Saturday night's final Group L meeting with Panama in New Jersey needing to match or better Ghana's result against Croatia to secure first place. A laboured first-half performance saw Thomas Tuchel's side struggle in driving rain, with five changes from the previous stalemate with Ghana. Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Nico O'Reilly, and Jarell Quansah replaced Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Djed Spence, and Reece James.
England broke through Panama's defences shortly after the hour mark when Jude Bellingham turned home Saka's corner. Five minutes later, captain Harry Kane scored his 11th World Cup goal, heading in Bellingham's cross to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer, surpassing Gary Lineker. The 2-0 win sealed top spot after Ghana lost 2-1 to Croatia, with Nikola Vlasic scoring the winner after Petar Sucic's opener was cancelled out by Derrick Luckassen.
Round of 32 Opponents
By clinching top spot, England avoided a tougher matchup against Portugal. Instead, they will face DR Congo, who beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final Group K match. DR Congo came from behind after Eldor Shomurodov's early goal, with Yoane Wissa scoring twice and Fiston Mayele adding another to secure a 3-1 victory. The match will take place in Atlanta on Wednesday at 5pm BST.
DR Congo are appearing at the World Cup for only the second time, first since 1974 as Zaire. They held Portugal to a 1-1 draw and narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia in the group stage. Their squad includes Premier League players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, and former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba, as well as experienced internationals like Arthur Masuaku and Cedric Bakambu.
England's Potential Route
If England progress, they could face co-hosts Mexico, Brazil, or Argentina later in the tournament. However, they will not overlook DR Congo, who are two-time Africa Cup of Nations winners and reached the last 16 earlier this year before losing to Algeria in extra time. According to reports, England's performance against Panama raised concerns over defensive lapses, but Tuchel will be pleased with the result and the team's ability to secure top spot in a competitive group.
