England's route to the World Cup final mapped out as knockout fixtures confirmed

England's route to the World Cup final has become clear after the knockout phase was mapped out. After Saturday's unconvincing 2-0 win against Panama, Thomas Tuchel's side finished top of Group L to ensure a favourable tie in the round of 32. The Three Lions will face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the African nation having finished third in Group K. Their path beyond that remains uncertain - but not a mystery. Every team now knows their potential opponents right up until the final. Fortunately for England, they're on the opposite of the draw to the likes of Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. But in order to get there, England will need to win four knockout ties. Let's break down their route to the final. Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter Round of 32 vs DR Congo (Wednesday, July 1 - 5pm UK time) First up is a clash with DR Congo, who England have never played before. Led by Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa, their goalless draw against Portugal should serve as a warning sign for the Three Lions. Congo went on to lose 1-0 against Colombia before coming from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1, avoiding a shock defeat which would've seen them exit the tournament. But now the Leopards have the opportunity to claim England's scalp. Round of 16 vs Mexico (Monday, July 6 - 1am UK time) There's been plenty of chatter about this one - the prospect of playing co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in sweltering conditions. Argentina and France were the only other nations to win all three of their group games, suggesting that Mexico should beat Ecuador when they welcome them on Wednesday. But the South Americans are coming off an historic 2-1 win against Germany which clinched third place in Group E. Losing only two of their qualifying fixtures and conceding just five goals, Ecuador's rock-solid defence could be a tough nut to crack for England should they beat Mexico, who haven't won a World Cup knockout game since they were last hosts 40 years ago. Will England win the World Cup? Give us your prediction in the comments section. Quarter-final vs Brazil (Saturday, July 11 - 10pm UK time) Now it gets serious. England are likely to play five-time winners Brazil in the scorching heat of Miami should they reach the last eight. Carlo Ancelotti's side do, though, have to navigate a tricky round-of-32 tie against Japan first before facing one of Norway or the Ivory Coast. England last faced Brazil in 2002, also at the quarter-final stage, losing 2-1. Can they get their revenge? David Seaman would be chuffed. Semi-final vs Argentina (Wednesday, July 15 - 8pm UK time) If England have got lucky with their route, Argentina have hit the jackpot. Lionel Messi and his team-mates have been handed minnows Cape Verde in the round of 32, and would play Australia or Egypt in the last 16. The holders would then take on Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia or Ghana in the quarter-finals. Argentina would be heavy favourites against any of those teams, so England should be prepared to meet them. Final vs Spain (Sunday, July 19 - 8pm UK time) Finally, the big one. With most of their European rivals on the other side of the draw, it wouldn't be a surprise to see England face a familiar foe in New Jersey next month. Spain came into the tournament as favourites, despite being ranked lower by FIFA than France, who they'd play in semi-finals should both countries make it that far. The Spanish bested England in Berlin two years ago to bring the curtain down on Gareth Southgate's reign, but Tuchel may get the chance to avenge him. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.