England vs. DR Congo: Everything You Need to Know Before Wednesday’s World Cup Knockout Match
ATLANTA — England enters Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match as the clear favorite.
DR Congo enters believing it can write the next chapter in what has already become one of the tournament’s most unpredictable knockout stages.
With Germany and the Netherlands already eliminated and several favorites pushed to the brink, England knows there are no guarantees when it takes the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here’s everything you need to know before kickoff.
| Match Info | |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs. DR Congo |
| Date | Wednesday, July 1 |
| Kickoff | Noon ET |
| Venue | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Capacity | 71,000 |
| TV | FOX |
| Streaming | FOX One, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV (English); Peacock and Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Radio | SiriusXM FC and local FIFA World Cup radio affiliates |
| Weather | Partly cloudy with temperatures around 88 degrees at kickoff and only a slight chance of rain. Expect a hot, humid Atlanta afternoon. (The match is indoors of course). |
FIFA Rankings
- England: No. 4 (Official FIFA Men’s World Ranking)
- DR Congo: No. 46 (Official FIFA Men’s World Ranking)
England finished atop Group L with seven points after victories over Croatia and Panama, along with a scoreless draw against Ghana. DR Congo reached the knockout stage as one of the tournament’s best third-place finishers after navigating a difficult group.
Betting Odds
- England: -350
- Draw: +450
- DR Congo: +950
To Advance
- England: Heavy favorite
- DR Congo: Significant underdog
Odds have continued to move toward England throughout the week, though this World Cup has already produced several notable upsets.
Ticket Prices
Demand has remained high for England’s first knockout match of the tournament.
As of Wednesday morning, verified resale tickets generally ranged from about $575 for upper-level seats to more than $1,500 for lower-bowl locations, with premium hospitality packages commanding substantially higher prices.
Players to Watch
England
- Harry Kane
- Jude Bellingham
- Bukayo Saka
- Declan Rice
DR Congo
- Yoane Wissa
- Cédric Bakambu
- Chancel Mbemba
- Arthur Masuaku
Three Keys to the Match
Can England start faster?
The Three Lions controlled much of the group stage but often took time to find their rhythm. Against an athletic DR Congo side, a sluggish opening could invite unnecessary pressure.
Can DR Congo capitalize in transition?
The Leopards have been at their best when defending compactly before breaking quickly through Wissa and Bakambu. They’ll likely concede possession and look to punish England on the counterattack.
Will Atlanta provide another memorable World Cup atmosphere?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has already emerged as one of the premier venues of the tournament, and another capacity crowd is expected for England’s knockout opener.
Prediction
England 2, DR Congo 1
England possesses too much quality across the pitch to overlook.
Kane remains one of the world’s premier finishers, Bellingham continues to dictate matches from midfield, and Thomas Tuchel’s squad has the depth to withstand a physical challenge.
Still, DR Congo has been one of the tournament’s surprise stories and has shown enough pace and organization to trouble England for stretches.
Expect the Leopards to make England work for all 90 minutes before the Three Lions ultimately advance to the Round of 16.
