Match Day 21 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced three round of 32 fixtures packed with late drama, as the United States, England, and Belgium all advanced under very different circumstances.
USA digs deep
The USA needed a moment of composure to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina. Folarin Balogun put them ahead in the first half, only to be sent off after the break, leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side to defend a one goal lead a man short.
Substitute Malik Tillman settled things in the 82nd minute with a free kick that curled over the wall for a 2-0 win. It is the USA’s first World Cup knockout victory since 2002 and only the second in the country’s history.
Balogun’s evening also earned him an unwanted piece of trivia, becoming the first player since Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final to score a goal and pick up a red card in a World Cup knockout match. The result also snapped a 10-game winless run for the USA against European opposition, a streak stretching back to their 2022 draw with England.
Pochettino’s side moves on to face Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6 in Seattle, a rematch of their extra time defeat in 2014.
Kane the star for England
England needed a rescue act of their own against DR Congo, who took a shock lead and held it deep into the second half behind a string of saves from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, including a brilliant stop to deny Jude Bellingham.
Harry Kane had other ideas. The England captain headed in an equaliser in the 75th minute before winning the game with a stunning strike in the 86th, both goals set up by substitute Anthony Gordon, who became the first England player in World Cup history to be directly involved in more than one goal off the bench.
Kane is now the first Englishman to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Gary Lineker in 1990, and his 15th World Cup start extends his own record as England’s most capped outfield player at the tournament. It was also England’s first win after conceding first in a World Cup match since the 1966 final.
Belgium produce stirring comeback against Senegal
Belgium produced the comeback of the day against Senegal, overturning a two goal deficit for the first time since their famous 2018 turnaround against Japan. Romelu Lukaku scored his seventh World Cup goal, before Tielemans won and converted a late, late penalty to knock out the Senegalese.
For Senegal, it was only the third time they have reached the knockout stage, and they now exit without ever getting past the round of 32 barring their run to the quarterfinals back in 2002.
DR Congo, for their part, leave the tournament with heads held high despite the late collapse against England. Their opener against the Three Lions was the first goal DR Congo have ever scored in a World Cup match, a small consolation on a night that ultimately ended in their first ever knockout stage defeat.
