What is England’s route to World Cup final and what knockout stage bracket are they in?

Unbeaten England are into the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel‘s England beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32 and were rescued by captain Harry Kane, who scored a stunning double to complete a brilliant comeback.

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More drama followed in the last-16 last Sunday night with a thrilling 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

England are now into the quarter-finals and take on Norway tonight.

England’s World Cup fixtures

With the Croatia, Ghana, and Panama group games done, Tuchel’s side have beaten DR Congo and Mexico in the knockout rounds.

But their path to the final is anything but easy.

England are in the lower bracket of the World Cup alongside the other remaining teams in Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland.

The Three Lions will take great heart from eliminating Mexico, having gone down to ten men following a Jarell Quansah red card.

A first-half double from Jude Bellingham and a coolly dispatched penalty from Harry Kane ensured progression into the next round.

Next up is Erling Haaland’s Norway, who stunned Brazil 2-1 after the Manchester City talisman scored twice.

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Then a potential semi-final against holders Argentina or Switzerland would take place at 8pm UK time on July 15.

And should England get to the final, they would return to the MetLife on July 19 at 8pm UK time.

They would face a team in the top bracket of the tournament which now only includes France and Spain.

Should England make the semi-finals but lose, there is a third place play off at this summer’s tournament.

Here are the details of England’s World Cup fixtures in full…

England’s route to the final

Group Stage

• June 17 – England 4-2 Croatia
• June 23 – England 0-0 Ghana
• June 27 – Panama 0-2 England

Knockout Stage

• Round of 32: England 2-1 DR Congo
• Round of 16: England 3-2 Mexico
• Quarter-finals: England vs Norway – July 11
• Semi-finals: England vs Argentina or Switzerland – July 15
• Final: England vs Spain or France – July 19

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What has been said?

If England are to go all the way this summer, they are going to do it in Tuchel’s way, and Tuchel’s way only.

Speaking after the Congo win, Tuchel said: “If everyone got what they like, we get an early goal, another goal, an easy afternoon. You have to deal with each situation that comes. They got a very early goal.

“After the water break, we had four or five opportunities. The penalty situation didn’t go in our favour.

“We kept knocking, knocking and knocking. The reaction and belief is one of a kind. We found a way to win. Well deserved.

“Like I said the whole tournament, the energy and team spirit is at the highest level.

“Everyone understands which part of the tournament we are in at the moment. The players who don’t play keep pushing and pushing, they are positive in the water breaks. Everyone is comfortable when they play, everyone is comfortable when they finish the game.

“We want it easy and have the first goal. If you have it and come back from one goal down, these are the experiences that give you genuine belief.

“They are well aware of what they did and what it took today.”

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