Who England will face in World Cup last 32 as opponents confirmed | OneFootball

Three Lions through to knockout phase as Group L winners after 2-0 win over Panama

England have qualified for the World Cup round of 32 as group winners.

The Three Lions went into Saturday night’s final Group L meeting with Panama in New Jersey needing to either match or better Ghana’s result against Croatia in Philadelphia to ensure top billing and, theoretically, an easier route through the knockout stages.

It was another laboured first-half performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side in driving rain on a difficult pitch at MetLife Stadium, with England’s five changes from their frustrating stalemate with Ghana not initially producing the desired effect as Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Nico O’Reilly and Jarell Quansah replaced Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Djed Spence and Reece James.

A second followed just five minutes later as captain Harry Kane overtook Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with his 11th finals goal as he headed in Bellingham’s cross from close range to seal a 2-0 triumph.

However, plenty of concerns remain for Tuchel, who will be troubled by his team’s latest defensive lapses in what, on paper at least, was their most straightforward assignment at this World Cup.

Record-breaker: Harry Kane is now England’s leading World Cup goalscorer of all time

PA

Who England will face in World Cup last 32

England knew ahead of their meeting with Panama that by clinching top spot in Group L, they would face the third-place team from either Group I, J or K in the newly-created round of 32 at this inaugural expanded 48-team tournament.

If DR Congo beat Uzbekistan in their Group K closer, it would be them in Atlanta on Wednesday. If not, a clash with Senegal loomed instead, with only a slight chance of it still being Algeria.

Things would have got far tougher for England in the event that they could only finish as runners-up, as, with the way things unfolded later in the night, that would have meant a showdown with Portugal in Toronto on Friday night after a goalless draw with Colombia saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Co finish as runners-up in Group K.

However, DR Congo did end up beating Uzbekistan in Atlanta, bouncing back from Eldor Shomurodov’s early goal to run out 3-1 winners thanks to a brace from Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa and a goal by Fiston Mayele.

Star man: Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta

Getty

They will remain in Atlanta now to meet England, with that game taking place at 5pm BST on Wednesday (July 1).

England’s potential route to the World Cup final could now include co-hosts Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, if the tournament pans out as expected on paper.

However, they won’t be overlooking a first-ever meeting with DR Congo, who are appearing at the World Cup for only the second time and first since 1974 as Zaire, holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opener before only being edged out 1-0 by Colombia.

Their squad also contains the likes of West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki of Sunderland, Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba, ex-West Ham man Arthur Masuaku and Real Betis forward Cedric Bakambu, plus Watford’s Edo Kayembe, ex-Reading and Aston Villa midfielder Aaron Tshibola and one-time Chelsea starlet Gael Kakuta.

They will be full of confidence after reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time having not picked up a single point and lost 9-0 on their only previous appearance on the global stage 52 years ago, edging out both Jamaica and Nigeria in the play-offs to get to North America after finishing second behind Senegal in qualifying.

DR Congo are two-time Africa Cup of Nations winners who finished fourth in 2023 and reached the last 16 earlier this year before losing 1-0 to Algeria in extra time.