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Kane Brace Propels England Past Congo, Surpasses Pelé

7/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Harry Kane’s second-half brace lifted England to a 2–1 win and moved him past Pelé on the all-time World Cup scoring list.
England beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2–1 in the round of 32 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, advancing to face Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel started Noni Madueke, Djed Spence and Declan Rice, retaining Marcus Rashford on the left wing.

History

Historical Context

England won its first and only FIFA World Cup on 30 July 1966, defeating West Germany 4–2 after extra time at Wembley Stadium before 98,000 spectators. Geoff Hurst became the first player to score a hat-trick in a final, and Queen Elizabeth II presented the Jules Rimet trophy. The triumph set a legacy of relying on prolific strikers, echoed by Harry Kane’s recent brace.

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Story summary

Harry Kane’s second-half brace lifted England to a 2–1 win and moved him past Pelé on the all-time World Cup scoring list.
England beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2–1 in the round of 32 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, advancing to face Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel started Noni Madueke, Djed Spence and Declan Rice, retaining Marcus Rashford on the left wing.

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