Harry Kane scored twice in 11 minutes to complete a stunning second-half comeback as England defeated DR Congo 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium on 2 July, advancing to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 where they will face Mexico. The Three Lions captain called the victory 'one of my favourites in an England shirt now', crediting the squad's collective patience for averting what would have been a historic upset.

How the Comeback Unfolded

Brian Cipenga's early strike had put the Central Africans in front and briefly set the stage for one of the tournament's biggest shocks. England struggled to break through a well-organised DR Congo side in the first half, with the Congolese goalkeeper producing a string of outstanding saves to keep the Three Lions at bay.

Kane pulled England level in the 75th minute, heading home from close range. Four minutes from time, he unleashed a ferocious drive that settled the contest and triggered jubilant scenes among England supporters. It was a masterclass in clinical finishing — two goals from just three attempts on target.

Kane's Historic World Cup Milestone

The goals pushed Kane's FIFA World Cup finals tally to 13, lifting him above Pelé and drawing him level with Just Fontaine — who scored all his 13 in a single tournament in 1958. Only five players in history have scored more: Lionel Messi (19), Kylian Mbappé (18), Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15), and Gerd Müller (14).

Kane also became the first England player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Gary Lineker against Cameroon in the 1990 quarter-finals — a 35-year gap that underlines how rare such performances are in the knockout rounds.

What Kane and Tuchel Said

'As soon as he hit it, I knew it was going in. I was already celebrating. I try to be the best version of myself. Leading by example is one of my biggest traits and my biggest mottos I try to live by,' Kane said after the match.

He added: 'What a crazy game. To come back in the way we did is just extremely pleasing and makes me proud of the group, proud of the boys. It was a tough game and for me, personally, one of my favourites in an England shirt now; to get a couple of goals and help the team over the line is obviously a magical, magical feeling.'

Head coach Thomas Tuchel was unstinting in his praise: 'Harry is our captain. He's our leader. He decides football matches with unbelievable finishes and did it here twice. The second one was just a brilliant goal.' Asked about the tournament's constellation of elite strikers — Kane, Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Messi — Tuchel distilled their shared quality bluntly: 'They're all sharks. If they smell blood, they come and score.'

Teammates React

Midfielder Declan Rice was equally effusive. 'He's just ridiculous; he's got 72 goals this season, I think — that's just not normal. They're ridiculous numbers. He's a proper leader, a captain. He trains every day and gets on with everyone in the group. That second goal, he just reverse-whips it into the top corner, and it was ridiculous to see. What a player. We're very lucky to have him,' Rice said.

What's Next for England

England now prepare for a Round of 16 clash against Mexico, a fixture that promises to be another examination of their character. On this evidence, with Kane in this form and the squad demonstrating the mental resilience to recover from a deficit, Gareth Southgate's successors under Tuchel will be among the favourites to go deep in the tournament.