England's 2-0 win over Panama in New Jersey, courtesy of goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, secured top spot in Group L and set up a round-of-32 clash against DR Congo. For the first time at a men's World Cup, the knockout stage begins with a last-32 round, following the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams. This new format means England must navigate an extra round to reach the quarter-finals, with 16 ties instead of the traditional eight in the round of 16.
The World Cup's expansion was approved by FIFA in 2017, increasing the number of participating nations from 32 to 48. The tournament is now split into 16 groups of three teams, with the top two from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout bracket. This replaced the previous system of eight groups of four, where the top two went into a round of 16. The change was designed to give more nations a chance to play in the tournament, but it also means group winners like England face an extra match to reach the quarter-finals.
“Explains the new World Cup last 32 round and England's knockout path after topping Group L.”
For England, the expanded format has already produced a familiar pattern: a laboured group stage under head coach Thomas Tuchel, but qualification as group winners. The team's next opponent, DR Congo, will be the first knockout hurdle. Meanwhile, Harry Kane's header against Panama was his 11th World Cup goal, making him England's all-time top scorer at the tournament, surpassing Gary Lineker's record of 10 which had stood since 1990. Kane, who has now scored at three World Cups, also won the Golden Boot in 2018 and will be key to England's hopes.
Another emerging figure is Elliot Anderson, the 23-year-old midfielder who has become a central part of Tuchel's plans. The Newcastle academy product, now at Nottingham Forest, is on the verge of a club-record £116 million move to Manchester City. Anderson's journey from Wallsend Boys' Club to the World Cup stage mirrors England's youth development success, and his presence in the squad adds depth to the midfield.
Q: How does the World Cup last 32 work? The last 32 is the first knockout round of the expanded World Cup. Sixteen group winners and 16 runners-up are drawn into a fixed bracket, with each tie a single-elimination match. Extra time and penalties are used if the score is level after 90 minutes.
Q: Who will England face in the last 32? England will face DR Congo in the round of 32. The tie was confirmed after England won Group L and DR Congo finished second in their group. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
Q: Why is Harry Kane's World Cup record significant? Harry Kane's 11th World Cup goal made him England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament, surpassing Gary Lineker's 10 goals. Kane is only the second Englishman, after David Beckham, to score at three World Cups, and he won the Golden Boot in 2018 with six goals.
What happens next: England's round-of-32 match against DR Congo will take place next Wednesday. If they win, they will face the winner of the tie between the other Group L runner-up and the group winners from another group, with the quarter-finals in sight.