England's World Cup opponents: DR Congo in profile

Head Coach: Sebastien Desabre

Last meeting: This is the first fixture between the two nations.

England will face DR Congo for the first time when the two sides meet in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

The Leopards are competing at their second ever World Cup, 52 years after they made their debut in 1974 when the country was named Zaire. 

After finishing behind Senegal in CAF Qualifying Group B, they entered the playoffs, where they beat Nigeria on penalties in the final. That set up a tie with Jamaica in the inter-confederation playoffs, which they won 1-0 in extra-time thanks to a goal from Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe.

Head coach Sébastien Desabre has been in charge since 2022 and has plenty of experience in African football having previously managed Uganda, as well as club sides in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. He guided DR Congo to the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations in 2023. 

Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa is likely to be the biggest threat and he’ll be ably supported by Cedric Bakambu, who scored four times in qualifying. At the other end of the pitch, Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and captain Chancel Mbemba will provide steel in defence. 

Recent results

DR Congo’s World Cup campaign got off to an impressive start as they held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Houston in their opening game. 

Having gone behind to an early Joao Neves strike, Wissa equalised on the stroke of half-time in a game where they impressed with their threat on the counterattack. 

A narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia followed, before they recorded a historic first World Cup victory in their final group game against Uzbekistan.

A goal down at half-time, they scored three times after the break to reach the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time. Wissa scored two, including a penalty to equalise, with Fiston Mayele also on target.

DR Congo's World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Lionel Mpasi, Thimothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo

Defenders: Chancel Mbemba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alex Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku  Joris Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Aaron Tshibola, Dylan Batubinsika, Gédéon Kalulu.

Midfielders: Noah Sadiki, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe, Ngal'ayel Mukau,  Charles Pickel, Nathanael Mbuku, Brian Cipenga, Meschack Elia, Gael Kakuta.

Forwards: Theo Bongonda, Fiston Mayelem, Cedric Bakambu, Simon Banza, Yoane Wissa.