England vs DR Congo: predicting the outcome of the CS-2026 match, 1st round of the tournament

• In the 2026 tournament, on the way to the round of 32, England’s match against DR Congo—Belgium vs USA—will be decided by the draw: DR Congo, Belgium—Senegal, USA—Denmark, Germany.
• Opta predicts England will beat DR Congo: 73.9% of scenarios between the two teams in 90 minutes.
• Opta also says 67.5% of scenarios for England’s match against DR Congo end in a win for the English team, while 18.3% end in a draw.

Meanwhile, in the 2026 tournament, in the round of 32, the match will be decided by the draw. The draw for the next round is as follows: England—DR Congo, Belgium—Senegal, USA—Denmark, Germany.

England against DR Congo

England are set to face DR Congo. The head-to-head record between the teams suggests that the command of the match will be in Africa’s favor, with the match likely to be decided by the stronger side: England—DR Congo, Belgium—Senegal, USA—Denmark, Germany.

According to Opta, supercomputer projections give England a 73.9% chance of winning against DR Congo in a 90-minute match, which corresponds to a 11.3% probability of DR Congo’s win. The chance of a draw is 14.8%. Overall, the model predicts 82.0% of scenarios where England advance to the round of 16.

The Athletic’s projections for the round of 32 suggest that England’s strongest side has a good chance of winning, but the decisive factor could be DR Congo’s ability to block and counter, which could make the difference. The Athletic also notes that DR Congo will be able to defend with discipline and exploit any gaps.

The Athletic’s list of predictions for the 1st round for all teams includes: England advance.

Belgium against Senegal

Belgium against Senegal is set to be decided in the round of 32. The head-to-head record suggests that Belgium will have the better chances, and Senegal’s chances are lower in comparison. In Opta’s supercomputer projections, Belgium have a 45.6% chance of winning in a match between the two teams after 90 minutes. For Senegal, the probability is 27%, while the draw is 27.4%. The model also predicts that Belgium will advance to the round of 16 in 76.6% of scenarios.

The Athletic’s projections for Belgium—Senegal suggest that Senegal could be a dangerous opponent with their attacking style, and that Belgium’s defense will be tested. The Athletic’s odds for the 1st round indicate that Belgium are the favorites to advance: Senegal’s chances of progressing are lower.

USA against DR Congo

USA are set to face DR Congo in the round of 32. The head-to-head record suggests that the teams are evenly matched, but the American side will be favored due to their attacking style and overall strength.

According to Opta’s projections, USA have a 67.5% chance of winning, a 14.3% chance of DR Congo winning, and a 18.3% chance of a draw. The model also predicts that USA will advance to the round of 16 in 76.6% of scenarios.

The Athletic’s projections say that the USA have been on a winning streak since 2002, while Belgium are in a difficult situation and have struggled to find stability. The Athletic’s projections for the 1st round suggest that the USA will advance.

Matchup details

The group stage matchups continue through the round of 32, with the draw determining the first round matchups. According to the predictions, the teams that will advance to the round of 16 include Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France and Mexico, as well as Portugal, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland and Ecuador.

Tags: Sport/Football