England's comeback secures round‑of‑16, maps Brazil's quarter‑final

England secured their place in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 after a 2‑1 comeback victory over DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium. Harry Kane’s double gave the English side the win and set up a clash with hosts Mexico, while the quarter‑final opponent for Brazil will depend on that result. DR Congo opened the scoring early in the first half through Cipenga, forcing England to chase the game. England’s early statistics had shown a poor first‑half record, making the goal even more crucial. The equaliser came in the second half when captain Harry Kane found the net, followed shortly by his second goal to seal the 2‑1 win. Kane’s brace ended England’s historic streak of not winning a World Cup match from behind since 1990 against Cameroon.

England’s altitude alarm ahead of Mexico clash at Azteca

Mexico secured their round‑of‑16 spot by defeating Ecuador 2‑0 on Tuesday, completing the bracket that pits England against the hosts. The England‑Mexico match is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 9 p.m. Brasília time. The venue for the England‑Mexico encounter is Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, one of the tournament’s iconic stages. The winner will travel to the quarter‑finals to meet the victor of Brazil’s round‑of‑16 tie. Brazil’s round‑of‑16 opponent is Norway, with the match set for next Sunday (5). Should Brazil progress, they will face either England or Mexico in the quarter‑finals. England now prepares for a decisive clash against the host nation, while Brazil looks ahead to a potential quarter‑final showdown with the English side, depending on the outcome in Mexico City.