European powerhouses England and Belgium were forced to come from behind to keep FIFA World Cup progress alive as both nations squeezed past African opposition, whilst the co-host USA made light of a second half sending off to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina and move into the Round of 16.
England 2 DR Congo 1
Harry Kane dragged England back from the precipice of World Cup oblivion with a late brace that broke DR Congo hearts as the Three Lions came from behind to win 2-1 in Atlanta. Kane took his FIFA World Cup 2026 total to five with two superb goals to turn this Round of 32 tie on its head and send England to Mexico City and a clash with co-hosts Mexico in the last sixteen.
Unfancied Congo had stunned the favourites after only seven minutes as Brian Ciphenga found acres of space down the England right-flank, a persistent problem position for Thomas Tuchel’s men, to arrow a low drive inside Jordan Pickford’s near post to send the African support into raptures.
England strove for a leveler, but Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was in inspired form, twice repelling headers from Jude Bellingham, before blocking a Kane effort from a corner just before the interval. Congo rarely troubled Pickford after the early opener, although Yoanne Wissa was extremely unlucky to strike the base of the post.
Time was running out for England when Kane struck. Substitute Anthony Gordon chipped a cross to the top of the six-yard box which Kane met with a bullet header to equalise, and it was the same combination that fashioned the winner. Gordon slipped a pass to Kane in the 86th minute and the super-striker maneuvered space to lash a stunning winner into the roof of the net.
Belgium 3 Senegal 2 – after extra-time
Belgium staged a remarkable comeback to overturn a 0-2 deficit and progress to the Round of 16 with a dramatic 3-2 success over Senegal thanks to a penalty in stoppage time at the end of extra-time in a sensational encounter in Seattle. Youri Tielemans kept his head, while all around were losing theirs, to slam home the decisive spot-kick in resounding fashion.
Tielemans, who had won the penalty given after an extensive VAR review, kept his nerve to send Belgium into the last sixteen after dragging the European side level in the final minutes of an engrossing match. His perfectly placed header, shortly after substitute Romelu Lukaku had rapped home a sweet near-post strike to reduce the arrears, brought the Belgians level.
It was harsh on Senegal who, for large parts of the fixture, were in complete control after taking the lead midway through the first half. Shortly after he had struck the post at full stretch, A header from Ismaila Sarr came back off the upright again, but this time the loose ball was gleefully turned home from close range by midfielder Habib Diarra.
The Lions of Teranga doubled their lead in the second half with a goal of simplicity, yet outstanding quality. A raking pass from defender Moussa Niakhaté sent Sarr in behind and he lashed a sumptuous finish beyond Thibault Courtois, but it was Belgium who would have the last word, their dramatic comeback completed by Tielemans penalty heroics.
USA 2 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
A goal in each half saw ten-man United States ease into the Round of 16 and a clash with Belgium, following a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco. Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman did the damage, although the dismissal of the talismanic Balogun in the second half, might prove crucial for USA hopes.
The co-hosts thought they had broken the deadlock just past the half-hour mark as Balogun rifled a shot into the bottom corner, only for celebrations to be cut short due to an offside flag. Right on half-time though the striker had his moment. A through ball fortuitously deflected twice into his path and he took his chance with aplomb.
Bosnia grew into the contest and were handed a potential lifeline when, with twenty-five minutes left to play, the United States were reduced to ten men. Balogun was the unfortunate man dismissed, sent off after VAR review. The ten men had the ball in the net once more when Christian Pulisic steered home in the 79th minute, but the offside flag again foiled them.
They were not to be denied long and, when Malik Tillman struck home from a direct free-kick the mountain became insurmountable from Bosnia who, despite peppering the US goal in the ten minutes of stoppage time, were unable to make the breakthrough that might have given them an outside chance of forcing extra-time.
RESULTS
Round of 32
England 2 (Harry KANE 75’, 86’) DR Congo 1 (Brian CIPENGA 7’)
(Atlanta Stadium)
Belgium 3 (Romelu LUKAKU 86’, Youri TIELEMANS 89’, 120+5’ (p)) Senegal 2 (Habib DIARRA 25’, Ismaila SARR 5 1’) – after extra time
(Seattle Stadium)
USA 2 (Folarin BALOGUN 45’, Malik TILLMAN 82’) Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
(San Francisco Bay Area)
WHAT’S NEXT
Friday 3 July
Round of 32
Spain v Austria (Los Angeles Stadium, 7am NZT)
Portugal v Croatia (Toronto Stadium, 11am NZT)
Switzerland v Algeria (BC Place, Vancouver, 3pm NZT)
Photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images