England vs DR Congo: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 clash ft. Jude Bellingham & Aaron Wan Bissaka

Star-studded English side-eye win over Congolese outfit boasting players competing in domestic European leagues

Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Georgia, United States of America, gears up to host the Round of 32 fixtures of the FIFA World Cup 2026 where 1966 Champions England and African outfit DR Congo lock horns in what is set to be a thrilling contest.

England, one of the tournament’s favourites, topped Group L in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with seven points. They remained unbeaten, scored six goals across three games, defeated 2018 finalists Croatia 4-2 and Panama 2-0 and had to settle for a goalless draw against Ghana.

DR Congo finished as the best third-ranked team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after accumulating four points in three wins. Sébastien Desabre’s Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in the opening game, suffered a 1-0 narrow defeat to Colombia, before thrashing Uzbekistan 3-1 despite being a goal behind until 65th minute.

On football’s grandest stage, ninety minutes can transform great players into national heroes. This highly anticipated showdown promises a tactical war, but the outcome rests on the boots of a few special individuals. In this article, we shall take a look at the top five players to keep an eye on.

5. Jordan Pickford (England)

The Merseyside goalkeeper single-handedly carried Gareth Southgate’s England to the finals of UEFA Euro 2024 with his saves. In knockout games, when the matches go down to the wire in penalties, it is Jordan Pickford whose presence between the sticks is enough for England to feel confident.

The Everton custodian has agile reflexes and has so far kept two clean sheets in three games, and even in one-on-one situations, Pickford has stood tall for the Three Lions. Pickford is a big match player who regularly plies his trade with Wissa and other Congolese players in the English Premier League.

4. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo)

Born in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, Bakambu won the UEFA U19 Championship with the French U19 team before pledging his allegiance to his Congolese roots in 2015. He is yet to score a goal so far in the FIFA World Cup, but once he gets going, the Real Betis lad is an indomitable force.

He has too much experience playing in Europe for clubs like Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Marseille and Villareal. The French-born striker excels at operating on the blind side of central defenders by executing sudden diagonal runs behind the line.

3. Marc Guehi (England)

Marc Guehi rose to prominence in the Euro 2024 after a world-class performance for England defensively. He made a high-profile switch from Crystal Palace to Manchester City and is coming after winning back-to-back FA Cups in the last two editions for two different teams.

Guehi is a highly disciplined, composed, and structurally sound modern central defender. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Guehi moved to London with his family when he was just one year old. The former Chelsea prodigy rarely resorts to reckless physical challenges and intercepts deep diagonal balls cleanly.

2. Aaron Wan Bissaka (DR Congo)

The West Ham United fullback is arguably one of the finest and highly respected Congolese players in European football fraternity. He honed his skills early at Crystal Palace before making a move to the hallowed Old Trafford with Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

He is coming after a disappointing season with the Londoners after the Hammers got relegated to the Championship. His sheer presence out wide allows DR Congo’s central backline of Mbemba and Tuanzebe to confidently remain compact.

1. Jude Bellingham (England)

Bellingham is the youngest England player since 1966 to score and assist in a World Cup match. Arguably, England’s best player so far in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Bellingham, has time and again proved why he is a big-game player. The birthday boy can single-handedly win games for England at 23.

From scoring that bicycle kick against Slovakia to save England from a humiliating early exit in Euro 2024 to scoring against Croatia and Panama, the Real Madrid star has been in terrific form for the Three Lions. Bellingham thrives when receiving possession under pressure in central spaces.

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