The Manchester schoolboys on opposite sides of England’s World Cup last-32 game: How Marcus Rashford is going head-to-head with one of his closest childhood friends

Marcus Rashford could face off against one of his childhood friends when England meet DR Congo in the last-32 of the World Cup on Wednesday.

Rashford will be looking to start for Thomas Tuchel’s side in Atlanta, while Axel Tuanzebe will line up in the DR Congo defence.

The pair, both 28, have been friends since attending Ashton on Mersey School in Sale.

Rashford had previously shared a photo from their schooldays together, which also featured James Dunne and Tosin Kehinde – who also became professional footballers.

Both Rashford and Tuanzebe went on to play together at Manchester United having broken into the first team set-up.

While Rashford made 426 appearances for the Red Devils, Tuanzebe appeared 37 times before loan spells and an eventual permanent departure for Ipswich Town.

Tuanzebe, who now plays for Burnley, also went a different direction to Rashford on the international scene.

Having represented England at youth level, Tuanzebe switched nationality in 2024 to represent DR Congo.

The defender had been born in Bunia in DR Congo, but emigrated with his parents in 2002.

Tuanzebe has since become a key part of the DR Congo defence, which also features another former England youth international in Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The 28-year-old scored DR Congo’s winning goal in their 1-0 play-off win over Jamaica in March, which secured their first World Cup qualification since 1974.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Tuanzebe expressed his hope that DR Congo’s performances can help a country that continues to be impacted by a decades-long conflict.

‘I’m not a politician, but the joy that I can bring to Congo is through football,’ Tuanzebe said.

‘For Congo, it’s all about trying to take the right steps forward and thinking about how I can affect that personally. I can affect it through my platform of football.

‘That was the biggest point for me of playing for Congo. I think a lot of the political issues we’ve had in the country stem from how the country has been exploited over the years because it’s rich in minerals.

‘The world shouldn’t be like this. I think we have enough intelligence, enough resources around the world to ensure that everybody lives a comfortable life. But it’s the world we live in.

‘So all I can do is put my two cents in there as a footballer, and hopefully it can help make a movement or spark a change into a better life and a better world. It does feel like a responsibility.’

Tuanzebe has played every minute of DR Congo’s campaign to date, with the African nation earning a 1-1 draw with Portugal, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Colombia and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.

He could now be tasked with attempting to keep out his former classmate should Rashford be handed a start by England boss Tuchel on Wednesday.