Who is Brian Cipenga, the goalscorer in the England-DR Congo 2026 FIFA World Cup match?

Brian Cipenga scored the first knockout goal for DR Congo during the Round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Chancel Mbemba played a cross into the England penalty area in the seventh minute, and Cipenga got to the ball from the left and drilled a low shot into the net past England keeper Jordan Pickford.

The 29-year-old striker plays for Spanish side Almeria in the second division, a team he moved to during the current transfer period. Last season he played for another LaLiga2 team, CD Castellon, scoring six goals while assisting a further nine in 30 appearances.

Despite his African roots, Cipenga rose through the ranks in Portugal. His club debut came for Sporting Clube Ideal, a fifth division team in Portugal. He then moved to Anadia, who currently play in the third tier of Portuguese football. Cipenga also played for Vilaverdense and Pacos de Ferreira, both teams from Portugal, until he moved to Spain.

For his national team, Wednesday’s goal was his first in his tenth appearance. His debut came in 2025 and until the match against England he had only assisted two goals.

DR Congo is making its second appearance at the World Cup, having last played as Zaire in 1982. It held Portugal to a 1–1 draw in the group stage and defeated Uzbekistan to seal a historic round of 32

Published on July 1, 2026