Marcus Rashford to Face Old School Friend Axel Tuanzebe in World Cup

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 30, 2026

England forward Marcus Rashford will compete against his former schoolmate Axel Tuanzebe when England faces DR Congo in their upcoming World Cup match. The game highlights their shared roots at Ashton on Mersey School and Manchester United’s youth academy, despite Tuanzebe choosing to represent his birth country rather than England.

England forward Marcus Rashford is set to face his former schoolmate Axel Tuanzebe when the two national teams meet in their upcoming World Cup match. The game between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) will take place tomorrow.

Rashford and Tuanzebe share a common background, having attended Ashton on Mersey School in Greater Manchester and progressed through the Manchester United youth academy together. While Tuanzebe was eligible to represent England internationally, he opted to play for DR Congo, the country where he was born.

Their encounter adds an intriguing personal dimension to the match, highlighting the diverse pathways players take in international football. The World Cup fixture brings together two players who grew up and trained side by side but now represent different nations on the global stage.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.