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By Aurax Desk | July 2, 2026 | 2 min read
England, Belgium and the United States booked their places in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after winning their knockout matches on Wednesday. The trio advanced following contrasting performances that set up high-profile clashes in the tournament's next stage.
England, Belgium and the United States secured places in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup with victories in Wednesday's Round of 32 matches. England rallied from an early deficit to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta after captain Harry Kane scored twice, including the late winner. DR Congo, appearing in its first World Cup knockout match, led for much of the contest before England's experience proved decisive. Belgium also came from behind in Seattle, overturning a two-goal halftime deficit to edge Senegal 3-2, while the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 despite finishing the match with 10 players after Folarin Balogun was sent off in the second half. The results completed another day of knockout action in the expanded 48-team tournament.
England's victory preserved its bid for a second World Cup title and set up a Round of 16 meeting with Mexico. Belgium's comeback, led by second-half attacking pressure, earned the Red Devils a matchup against co-host United States after eliminating a Senegal side that had impressed during the group stage. In San Francisco, Balogun broke the deadlock shortly after halftime before Malik Tillman doubled the lead with a late free kick. The United States maintained its advantage after Balogun's dismissal, keeping Bosnia and Herzegovina scoreless to continue its run on home soil.
The three results continue the Round of 32 phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition featuring 48 teams and a knockout round beginning with 32 nations. England will face Mexico and the United States will meet Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 5 and July 6, respectively, while the remaining knockout fixtures continue over the coming days to complete the quarterfinal lineup. The expanded tournament has produced several closely contested matches, with comeback victories and late goals becoming recurring themes as teams compete for a place in the final eight.
Sources: nformation compiled from FIFA, Reuters and FOX Sports.