Noni Madueke: Ready for Knockout Football at World Cup

Noni Madueke is exactly where he always wanted to be – at a World Cup, wearing an England shirt, walking into knockout football. And yet, listening to him on the eve of the Round of 32, you sense this is nowhere near enough for him.

The dream has been ticked off. The ambition is only just getting started.

England face DR Congo on Wednesday in the first knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tie loaded with danger for a nation still chasing a first major trophy in 60 years. For Madueke, in his first World Cup, this feels like the moment the tournament truly begins.

“It’s a dream come true to compete in the World Cup,” he told the media on Tuesday, his voice calm but his words edged with intent. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“It’s been a good experience, the first objective was achieved, so I’m really happy about that and I’m looking forward to the knockout stages now. You have to feel like [you can step up], you’re a top player, you’re here for a reason.

“You’re playing for your country on the biggest stage and you have to have the excessive confidence in your ability. Knockout football is where it’s at, so I’m trying to be at my best for that. At the end of the day, alongside your teammates on that pitch, it’s down to you to deliver.”

A different kind of test

DR Congo are not a glamorous name in this World Cup bracket, but they are precisely the sort of opponent that can suffocate a favourite’s campaign. Organised, disciplined, and likely to set up in the kind of compact, stubborn block that frustrated England in their goalless draw with Ghana in the group stage.

Madueke knows exactly what is coming.

“I feel like every team has difficulties with the opposition setting up 11 players in 30 metres of space, it’s not easy to break down,” he said. “I think we’ve seen other top nations struggle as well. It’s just part of football now.

“Of course, when you play England, naturally you’re going to have a defensive approach because of the quality in our team. I expect a difficult game, for sure.

“When you get to this stage of the World Cup, you can’t take any opposition lightly. They will have their strengths and their qualities. The game will definitely be difficult and we’ll be ready from the start.”

The message is clear: this is not a procession to the last 16. England will have to prise the door open.

Depth, competition, and no comfort zones

One weapon Thomas Tuchel has leaned on throughout the group stage is England’s depth. He has rotated aggressively, especially in attack, trusting his bench and showing just how many match-winners he has at his disposal.

Madueke has felt that first-hand. Two starts, one appearance from the bench – enough to be involved, not enough to feel secure.

“I feel like you always have to be at the highest level, because you know you have a top player waiting and biting at your heels to try and get in the team,” he said.

“That type of healthy competition is good, but playing for Arsenal and England, you don’t really need anyone else to keep you at the highest level, you know that that’s a requirement.”

There’s no sense of complaint in that assessment. If anything, he sounds energised by it. The standard at club and country is brutal. Fall even slightly, and someone else steps in.

Saka, shared standards, and a title glow

On one flank at Arsenal, Bukayo Saka. On the other, Madueke. Now they carry that duel into the England set-up, chasing the same spot in Tuchel’s XI while trying to drag the same team to glory.

“Normally it should be a little strange, but it’s not,” Madueke said of competing with his club teammate. “I feel like it doesn’t affect our relationship. We want the best for each other when each other plays, because that means if he plays well, I play well, then Arsenal and England have a better chance of winning.

“I feel like that winning feeling lingers. It’s great to take [a Premier League title] into a tournament as big and as prominent as the World Cup. It definitely fills you with confidence.”

That “winning feeling” matters. Arsenal’s title has given several members of this England squad the taste of finishing the job, not just chasing it. Madueke talks like someone who has no interest in settling for a plucky run or a near miss.

Arsenal wings, global stage

Arsenal’s influence stretched beyond England on Tuesday. As Madueke spoke, another of the club’s wide men was making his own mark in this World Cup.

Gabriel Martinelli struck a late winner for Brazil while his club teammate was on media duty, another winger from the same dressing room deciding a game on the biggest stage.

“For sure, I’m happy for him,” Madueke said with a smile. “I hope he continues to do extremely well, just not if they play us!”

It was a light line, but it carried a sharper edge underneath. Arsenal’s wingers are lighting up the tournament for their countries. Madueke wants his turn in the spotlight to last the longest.

The dream of playing at a World Cup has been realised. Now comes the part that defines careers: can he help turn that dream into a trophy that has eluded England for six decades?