England face controversy after Harry Kane is denied a penalty during their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against DR Congo. Multiple outlets report that the incident occurs in the first half, when referee Adham Makhadmeh does not award what England players consider a decisive spot-kick. The denial sparks strong reactions from England’s side, with at least one report noting that manager Thomas Tuchel is also upset.
Despite the penalty controversy, England secure a 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo. According to accounts in the coverage, Kane plays a central role by scoring twice, helping England overturn the deficit to reach the next stage of the tournament.
While the reports agree on the penalty denial and the match outcome, they do not provide full details of the foul or the referee’s reasoning. The focus across sources remains on the denied penalty call involving Kane and the way England still manage to win the last-32 encounter.
