England v DR Congo: 2026 World Cup Prediction

England had absolutely no trouble in the group stage, but their performances were certainly not convincing. Even in the match against Panama, when nothing was at stake, their play was sluggish, and it was down to the individual qualities of Kane and Bellingham that made the difference. The next hurdle is the surprise package, DR Congo. They picked up a point against Portugal and have shown they can cause problems for the big teams. Can they do the same against England? Here is our England v DR Congo prediction.

Betting at Oranje Palace

Sign up at Oranje Palace today and, as a new player, you’ll immediately receive 3 x €14 Free Bets: a Pre-match Free Bet, a Live Free Bet and a Bet Builder Free Bet. Perfect for placing bets straight away during the 2026 World Cup and adding extra excitement to the matches. What are you waiting for?

But that’s not all, because at Oranje Palace you can also take advantage of various extra promotions. For example, there’s the Lucky Change, which gives you the chance to turn a losing bet into a winning one, and the Match of the Day, where you can win a 25% Bet Builder Profit Boost. Take a look at the promotions page and find out which offers are available today.

England v DR Congo preview

Will England manage to win this match, which looks straightforward on paper? Or will they fall into the same trap that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal fell into? Read on to find out more about both sides, who are dreaming of a place in the round of 16.

Current Form & Team News

England

Now that the group stage is over, things are really about to get underway for England. Thomas Tuchel’s star-studded squad picked up seven points in the group stage, finishing top of their group. Yet, in truth, the match against Croatia was the only one in which they played well. A few days later, against Ghana, they struggled enormously and The Three Lions actually got off lightly, as the Ghanaians were denied a penalty. Will they be able to score against another African side and thus progress to the next round of the tournament?

DR Congo

Anyone who supports DR Congo is currently living a dream. In a very tough group featuring Colombia and Portugal, amongst others, the Congolese still managed to pick up four points. Thanks to their 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, they also finished as the best third-placed team. Unfortunately for them, they still face a clash with a top-tier nation. It will be a particularly interesting match for Yoane Wissa, as he will be up against Anthony Gordon, his Newcastle United team-mate. Can Les Léopards’ key player lead his team to victory?

Head-to-Head

England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have never played an international match against each other before. As a result, there is nothing to say about their head-to-head record.

Predicted line-ups

England (4-3-3):

Pickford, O’Reilly, Stones, Konsa, James, Rice, Bellingham, Anderson, Gordon, Kane, Madueke

DR Congo (4-3-3):

Mpasi, Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Wan-Bissaka, Sadiki, Moutoussamy, Mukua, Wissa, Bakambu, Elia

England v DR Congo betting tips

Betting tip 1: Over 2.5 goals for England

We get the feeling that things are really heating up in the England squad, particularly up front. Players like Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are hot on the heels of their rivals and keen to secure a starting place. Add Harry Kane to the mix, and there’s a very good chance that England will score at least three goals – something they often do in major tournaments. If England score more than 2.5 goals, you’ll get odds of 2.40.

Betting tip 2: Yoane Wissa to have more than 0.5 shots on target

We’re very confident that Yoane Wissa will put in another strong performance. The Newcastle United striker scored in the opening match against Portugal and also led his country to victory over Uzbekistan with a brace. A goal might be a bit of a stretch, but we reckon the strong-headed striker will manage at least one shot (or header) on target. If Yoane Wissa has more than 0.5 shots on target, you’ll get odds of 2.08.

England v DR Congo Prediction

** Final score: England 3–1 DR Congo**
We can’t imagine DR Congo pulling off a shock and knocking England out. And yet we expect a somewhat hard-fought match in which the Africans will create their fair share of chances. We are therefore predicting a 3-1 win for England.