England had to work hard, but secured their place in the 2026 World Cup round of 16.With two goals from Harry Kane, the English team came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium, and will now face hosts Mexico.AdvertisementAnd whoever wins will be the Brazilian national team's opponent in the quarterfinals—if Brazil, of course, advances in the tournament.England's qualification had plenty of drama. DR Congo opened the scoring early in the first half through Cipenga, forcing England to come from behind (and bucking their poor first-half stats).Relief only came in the second half, when top scorer and captain Harry Kane found the net twice to seal qualification.Beyond the relief of advancing, the win also ended a very uncomfortable historic streak: England had not won a World Cup match from behind since the 1990 edition, when they beat Cameroon in extra time.AdvertisementBrazil's pathWith England and Mexico advancing (Mexico knocked out Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday), the quarterfinal bracket is now set.The World Cup "Super Wednesday" produced the following scenario:Round of 16: Brazil will face Norway next Sunday (5).Quarterfinals: If they advance, the Brazilian national team will face the winner of England vs. Mexico.The Round of 16 clashEngland will now have the challenge of facing one of the host nations at one of world football's greatest stages:Match: England vs. MexicoDate: Sunday, July 5, 2026Time: 9 p.m. (Brasília time) — right after the end of Brazil's matchVenue: Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City
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