Harry Kane is on the brink of another milestone in his England career as he prepares to lead the Three Lions into their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash against DR Congo in Atlanta.The England captain has scored three goals in World Cup knockout matches and is just one strike away from equalling Sir Geoff Hurst’s tally of four, the second-highest by an England player in the tournament’s knockout stages. Only Gary Lineker, with six knockout goals, has scored more for the Three Lions at the World Cup.
England’s all-time World Cup knockout goals
| Player | Knockout Goals | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Lineker | 6 | England’s highest scorer in World Cup knockout matches |
| Sir Geoff Hurst | 4 | Best remembered for his hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final |
| Harry Kane | 3 | Could draw level with Hurst in the Round of 32 |
England vs DR Congo
England will take on DR Congo in a must-win Round of 32 encounter at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 PM local time (5:00 PM BST / 9:30 PM IST).Thomas Tuchel’s side progressed to the knockout stage after finishing unbeaten at the top of Group L. DR Congo, meanwhile, have scripted history by reaching the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time, advancing as the highest-ranked third-placed team from Group K. The stakes could not be higher, with the winner booking a place in the Round of 16, where co-hosts Mexico await in Mexico City. England started their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia and then drew 0-0 with Ghana before sealing top spot with a victory over Panama.
Predicted Lineups
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.DR Congo (5-3-2): Mpasi; Kalulu, Mbemba, Inonga, Baka, Masuaku; Pickel, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Wissa, Bakambu.
