England are through to the World Cup Round of 32
after beating Panama 2-0 last night.
Next match: DR Congo
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026
Kick-off: 5pm BST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
UK Channel: BBC One and BBC iPlayer (free)
How England Got Here
England topped Group L with two wins and a draw:
- England 4-2 Croatia (June 17)
- England 0-0 Ghana (June 23)
- England 2-0 Panama (June 27)
Last night Jude Bellingham opened the scoring
before Harry Kane headed home to seal the win —
and in doing so became England's all-time top
scorer at World Cups with 11 goals,
surpassing Gary Lineker's record of ten.
How to Watch England vs DR Congo in the UK (Free)
BBC One — Live from 4:30pm BST Wednesday 1 July
BBC iPlayer — Free live stream from 4:30pm BST
Kick-off: 5pm BST
Free with a free BBC account.
| Device | How to Watch |
|---|---|
| Smart TV | BBC iPlayer app (free) |
| Firestick | BBC iPlayer app from Firestick App Store |
| iPhone/iPad | BBC iPlayer app from App Store |
| Android | BBC iPlayer app from Google Play |
| PC/Mac | bbc.co.uk/iplayer — free account |
England's Potential Route to the Final
England topped Group L which means they are
on the favourable side of the bracket.
| Round | Date | Opponent | UK Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Wed 1 Jul | DR Congo | 5pm BST | BBC |
| Round of 16 | Mon 6 Jul | Mexico or Ecuador | 1am BST | TBC |
| Quarter-Final | Sat 11 Jul | Brazil/Japan or Norway/Ivory Coast | 10pm BST | TBC |
| Semi-Final | Wed 15 Jul | Argentina or Cape Verde | 8pm BST | TBC |
| Final | Sun 19 Jul | TBC | 8pm BST | TBC |
England cannot face Spain or Argentina until
the semi-finals or France until the final
due to the seeding system introduced this tournament.
Will BBC iPlayer Buffer for England Matches?
During England knockout matches, BBC iPlayer
carries millions of simultaneous UK viewers.
Buffering at key moments — particularly goals —
is a documented issue during high-viewership events.
Smart Live TV includes the BBC iPlayer feed
via a dedicated stream that routes independently
of the national audience.
Free 24-hour trial — no card needed →
Watching England from Outside the UK
BBC iPlayer is geoblocked outside the UK.
If you are watching from France, Morocco, UAE,
the USA or anywhere abroad — it will not work.
Smart Live TV carries all BBC World Cup matches
with no VPN and no geo-restriction.
Works from any country. From £12/month.
The World Cup Round of 32 Schedule (UK Times)
| Date | Match | UK Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 28 Jun | South Africa vs Canada | 8pm | BBC |
| Mon 29 Jun | Brazil vs Japan | 6pm | ITV |
| Mon 29 Jun | Germany vs Paraguay | 9:30pm | BBC |
| Tue 30 Jun | Netherlands vs Morocco | 2am | BBC |
| Tue 30 Jun | Ivory Coast vs Norway | 6pm | ITV |
| Tue 30 Jun | France vs Sweden | 10pm | BBC |
| Wed 1 Jul | England vs DR Congo | 5pm | BBC |
| Wed 1 Jul | Belgium vs Senegal | 9pm | ITV |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is England vs DR Congo UK?
5pm BST on Wednesday 1 July 2026.
Pre-match coverage on BBC One from 4:30pm.
What channel is England vs DR Congo?
BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Free to watch in the UK.
Who does England play in the World Cup Round of 32?
DR Congo, on Wednesday 1 July at 5pm BST in Atlanta.
Did England top their World Cup group?
Yes. England topped Group L with 7 points
from three matches — beating Croatia 4-2,
drawing 0-0 with Ghana, and beating Panama 2-0.
How many World Cup goals has Harry Kane scored?
11 — a new England record, surpassing
Gary Lineker's previous record of ten goals.
Kane's header against Panama last night
was his 11th World Cup goal.
Can I watch England vs Congo on Firestick?
Yes. Download the free BBC iPlayer app from
the Firestick App Store and stream live.
Full Firestick setup guide →
How do I watch England World Cup matches abroad?
BBC iPlayer is blocked outside the UK.
Smart Live TV works from any country with
no VPN. All England matches included from £12/month.
Free 24-hour trial →