FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 results: Harry Kane saves England, Belgium win thriller, USA advance
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 results: England faced DR Congo, while Belgium were in action against Senegal. Co-hosts USA took on Bosnia-Herzegovina in the latest round of knockout games.
England 2-1 DR Congo
England had Harry Kane to thank, as he spared their blushes in a late win against a spirited DR Congo side. The English captain once again delivered in a game that appeared to be slipping from his team’s grasp with a massive upset looming.
The Three Lions made a tame start to the game and were punished by their opponents inside seven minutes. Chancel Mbemba’s ball into the box went over the English defense and found Brian Cipenga, who fired past Jordan Pickford to give the African nation a shock lead. Many expected Thomas Tuchel’s side to come flying at the Congo defence, but they appeared short of ideas. But the first hydration break helped them.
Lionel Mpasi pushed away a Jude Bellingham header, and Marcus Rashford saw his effort blocked off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. DR Congo still had the chance to double their lead but saw Yoane Wissa hit the post just before halftime.
The second half saw England struggle to break through. A combination of Mpasi making some really good saves and laboured English performance meant The Leopards were closing in on an historic upset. But Tuchel’s substitutions changed the game.
Anthony Gordon provided a cross for Kane to head home with 15 minutes remaining much to the relief of English fans inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Eleven minutes later, they were celebrating what proved to be the winner.
Bellingham drove in from the left side and saw his strong shot yet again saved by Mpasi. The ball fell to Gordon who kept his calm to find Kane and the Bayern Munich forward thumped a finish home to give his side the lead. Except for the opening game win over Croatia, England remain unconvincing and now they head to the Azteca to play Mexico in the last 16.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal
Belgium produced a stunning late comeback to beat Senegal in the Round of 32 tie, which was full of drama. Despite trailing by two goals with only four minutes of normal time remaining, Rudi Garcia’s men are heading to the next round.
Senegal started the game appearing more threatening their opponents. Indeed, they should have taken the lead when Thibaut Courtois could only parry Ismail Jakobs’ dangerous cross closer to Ismaila Sarr’s feet. But the Crystal Palace man could only hit the post. Sarr once again headed onto the woodwork, but this time Habib Diarra was on hand to rifle the ball into the net and give his side the lead in the 25th minute.
It took The Lions of Teranga six minutes into the second to double their advantage. Moussa Niakhate’s long ball found Sarr, and he showed great composure and control before thumping a finish past a stunned Courtois. As time went on, it appeared that Senegal would be heading to the last 16, while Belgium players would be catching a flight home. But their fortunes turned dramatically.
With four minutes left of the 90, a Thomas Meunier cross was swept in by Romelu Lukaku to give his side a faint hope. Still, the African side only needed to keep their heads, and they would be through. In the 89th minute, Leandro Trossard’s cross saw goalkeeper Mory Diaw come out far ahead of his goal only to miss the ball which was headed home by Youri Tielemans to send the game into extra time.
The first 15 minutes went goalless, with both teams not risking much. The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time. Dodi Lukebakio’s shot from close range hit the crossbar, and it appeared that he had missed the chance to win the game. But a lengthy VAR check led to Belgium being awarded a penalty or Lamine Camara’s lunge challenge on Tielemans just before Lukebakio’s miss.
Tielemans dusted himself and calmly placed in the ball in the top-right corner to score the latest goal in World Cup history and complete a remarkable comeback to send the Red Devils into the last 16.
USA 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
USA continued their World Cup run with another impressive performance in the Round of 32. The game against Bosnia-Herzegovina saw the hosts produce an attacking display that has become a trademark for them in this tournament.
Bosnia did start the game positively, with US goalkeeper Matt Freese first saving from Ermedin Demirovic and then punching away Kerim Alabegovic’s corner off the line. The hosts then started to grow in the game, and Folarin Balogun finished a move in the bottom corner only to be flagged offside. Then, at the stroke of halftime, Balogun put them ahead.
Malik Tillman’s pass deflected to him, and he made the most of it, slotting the ball past Bosnia keeper Nikola Vasilj. The Monaco striker continued his eventful evening in the second half.
In the 64th minute, he tackled Tarik Muharemovic from behind with his studs catching the Bosnian player’s calf. The referee showed him a straight red card after a VAR review. This twist briefly ignited the hopes of Zmajevi, but USA were not to be denied in front of an energetic home crowd at Levi’s Stadium.
Even with 10 men, Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked threatening and sealed the game in the 82nd minute. A free kick just outside the box was curled in superbly by Tillman to secure USA’s first knockout round win at the World Cup since 2002. The expectation will be to take another step forward when they meet Belgium in the last 16 clash on July 6.
