World Cup 2026: England's predicted lineup vs DR Congo

GK - Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford will once again start in goal for England, making his sixth appearance in a World Cup knockout game - and having won three of his previous five, his experience will stand his nation in good stead here.

Back-to-back clean sheets suggest England's backline have really found their feet at the 2026 World Cup, and with the pressure building more and more with every passing game, the vastly experienced Pickford will continue to start in goal for the Three Lions.

RB - Djed Spence

Jarell Quansah was given his first competitive international start in England's final group game against Panama, but after coming off with an injury, we think his spot will be snatched by Djed Spence here - with the Spurs man now the only natural right-back that Thomas Tuchel has at his disposal.

Spence has featured in all three games so far, starting against Ghana last week, and in the absence of Reece James, he seems the obvious pick for this one. Tuchel has previously said Spence is the fastest player in the squad, so we're tipping the 25-year-old to be bombing up and down that right-hand side against DR Congo.

CB - Ezri Konsa

Ezri Konsa is the only outfield player to have played every single minute for England so far at the World Cup, and we certainly aren't expecting him to be displaced now the stakes are starting to get higher.

The Aston Villa man has quickly grown into the tournament, putting in a couple of faultless performances to contribute to England's clean sheets in Group L, and with such consistency, he's proving to be a very reliable member of Thomas Tuchel's backline.

CB - Marc Guehi

Alongside Konsa, Marc Guehi has played 90 minutes in both games where England have kept a clean sheet this summer, so we think this is likely to be the centre-back partnership moving forward through the tournament.

The Manchester City defender has excelled in an England shirt up to this point, and has all the attributes to match the likes of Yoane Wissa in that DR Congo frontline - and having had 233 touches across his last two games, it's clear he's a key cog in this Three Lions machine.

LB - Nico O'Reilly

With Djed Spence filling in on the right, Nico O'Reilly seemingly has a free run at the left-back spot for this Round-of-32 clash, so we're tipping the Manchester City youngster to earn his third start of the tournament.

As well as his defensive quality, O'Reilly offers a hugely imposing attacking threat on the left-hand side for England, with the 21-year-old constantly getting forward - even hitting the bar against Ghana - so for his all-round impact, this one seems a simple pick.

CM - Elliot Anderson

It's no surprise to see Elliot Anderson putting in strong performance after strong performance in an England shirt, with the 23-year-old quickly becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet - to the extent that Kobbie Mainoo is yet to play a minute.

Anderson complemented Jude Bellingham really nicely against Panama, which is simply testament to his incredibly well-rounded profile, and he's sure to dominate the middle of the park once again - against a DR Congo side who are likely to try and frustrate the Three Lions.

CM - Declan Rice

Having sat out England's win over Panama with a slight injury concern, Declan Rice returns to our predicted XI for this Round-of-32 tie against DR Congo, as the £100million man prepares to showcase his class in the knockouts.

England didn't miss the Arsenal midfielder against Panama, but they'll certainly want him in the engine room as the pressure builds, helping the team with his endless energy and notable consistency - and, of course, his lethal set pieces.

RW - Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka got his first start of the summer in England's final Group L game, and having lasted just over an hour - grabbing an assist in the process - we think he'll be in line to retain his place in the England lineup here.

Noni Madueke filled in valiantly while Saka was gearing up to start, but now that he's made his return to the starting XI, it would be a surprise to see him fall out of it again, with the increase in quality - and efficiency - in the final third impossible to ignore.

CAM - Jude Bellingham

A goal and an assist in England's 2-0 win over Panama solidified Jude Bellingham's title as one of the Three Lions' most important players - and as long as he's fit, the Real Madrid man will be in Thomas Tuchel's starting lineup.

We're tipping him to move back into his more advanced role for this one, with Declan Rice returning to the fold behind him, but wherever Bellingham plays, his impact is clear for all to see. He's one of the favourites to win the Golden Ball for a reason, and if England are to go far, Jude Bellingham will have had a huge say.

LW - Marcus Rashford

Ladbrokes is expecting Marcus Rashford to keep his place in the starting XI for England's clash with DR Congo, with Anthony Gordon failing to impress consistently in the opening games of the tournament - but the Manchester United winger will need to put in a slightly more effective display here.

Rashford got into plenty of dangerous positions against Panama, having five shots, but with only one hitting the target, he's not quite done enough to make the decision to start him clear-cut. We're backing him, but Gordon will be waiting keenly in the wings.

ST - Harry Kane

The final name in our predicted XI is the first name on the teamsheet, with captain Harry Kane breaking yet more records in an England shirt last time out - becoming England's outright top scorer at World Cups.

The Golden Boot challenger has three in three this summer, and with his 70th goal of the season seeing him surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's most prolific campaign, England's leading goalscorer is in the form of his life - so we wouldn't be surprised to see him grab another goal or two against DR Congo.

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

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