DR Congo vs. England Odds, Picks & Predictions 1/32, July 1

After all the hoopla and the run up, Day 4 of the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup opens with a matchup as DR Congo takes on England Wednesday afternoon and we have you covered with our DR Congo vs. England prediction. DR Congo closed group play with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan Saturday night in their previous contest. England blanked Panama 2-0 in their group play finale their last time out Saturday afternoon. This marks the first time that the two sides have met in World Cup play. Let’s break down this DR Congo vs. England matchup.

Don’t forget to check out all the World Cup odds as the tournament progresses!

DR Congo Hoping to Advance to Round of 16

DR Congo in the World Cup

In 2026, the Léopards make their second World Cup appearance all-time here and their first since 1974. In their history, the DR Congo has a record of one win, one draw and four losses in World Cup play. The Léopards enter the World Cup ranked 46th in the FIFA world rankings. DR Congo finished group play with a record of one win, one draw and one loss, giving them four points. The Léopards finished third in Group K but were one of the top eight third-place sides, advancing them to the knockout rounds for the first time.

DR Congo Last Match

Against Uzbekistan, DR Congo got their offensive attack going and that helped them earn their first-ever win in World Cup play. The Léopards controlled the play by a 58% to 42% margin in the contest. In addition, DR Congo dominated the expected goals by a 2.18 to 0.20 margin while owning a 4-1 advantage in terms of shots on goal. The Léopards nearly went down a goal in the opening minute only to catch a break when Uzbekistan was ruled offside. They weren’t as fortunate in the 10th minute as the White Wolves took a 1-0 advantage. Nathaniel Mbuku thought he had tied the score in the 18th minute but that was overturned by VAR as he committed a foul. That left the score 1-0 at the half.

In the second half, DR Congo turned things around as they increased the pressure against Uzbekistan and it paid dividends. After a couple missed chances, the Léopards earned a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Yoane Wissa scored on the penalty to tie the score. Fiston Mayele scored in the 78th minute to give DR Congo the 2-1 advantage. Wissa iced the game as he scored in the 91st minute off a feed from Meschack Elia. Lionel Mpasi projects to make his fourth World Cup appearance between the sticks for the DR Congo here.

England Looking to Keep Title Dreams Alive

England in the World Cup

In 2026, England logs their 17th World Cup appearance and their eighth straight as they take the pitch here. They last missed the World Cup back in 1994. The Three Lions own a record of 33 wins, 23 draws and 20 losses in World Cup play entering this contest. England went into the World Cup ranked fourth in the FIFA world rankings. The Three Lions owned a record of two wins, one draw and no losses in group play. They finished with seven points and finished atop Group L to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.

England Last Match

Against Panama, England shrugged off a pesky underdog to earn the victory and the top seed in Group L. The Three Lions owned a 67% to 33% advantage in terms of possession in the match. In addition, England had a 1.56 to 0.66 margin in terms of expexted goals and a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal in the match. In the first half, both teams had opportunities to score only to come up empty. As a result, despite good chances, the teams went to the half with the match still scoreless.

In the second half, England turned up the pressure and it finally ended up paying dividends for them. After a couple more missed chances, Jude Bellingham broke the scoreless deadlock in the 62nd minute off a feed from Bukayo Saka. Shortly after, Harry Kane made it a 2-0 score with his goal in the 67th minute off a feed from Bellingham. Panama thought they had a goal in the 91st minute but they were ruled offside. England handled things the rest of the way and emerged with the victory. Jordan Pickford projects for his 16th start in World Cup play here. He owns a record of nine wins, two draws and four losses in those contests. In addition, Pickford has five clean sheets in those outings. Make sure you keep track of England’s World Cup odds throughout the knockout rounds.

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DR Congo vs. England Prediction

We know that England can score as they have a vast collection of talent up front. Bellingham, Kane, Saka and company are going to pressure the DR Congo backline. If the Three Lions get on the board early, it forces the Léopards to abandon their normal style and attack. That merely creates more opportunities for England to aggressively attack. England is the better side and while a one-match scenario levels the field somewhat, you have to back the better squad here. Tuchel’s team advances to the round of 16 with a convincing win.

Our Prediction: England -1.5 (DraftKIngs, -115)

With the firepower that England brings to the pitch, you know that they’re likely to put multiple goals on the board. Bellingham has just one fewer goal than Kane in the group stage of the World Cup. He broke the ice in the win over Panama and has two goals plus an assist on the books so far. Bellingham has six shots on goal in the three matches and it won’t be a surprise to see him find the back of the net again here. Look for Bellingham to score in this match to help England get the win.

Our Prediction: Jude Bellingham Anytime Goal Scorer (FanDuel, +250)