In a gripping day of soccer action, England, the United States, and Belgium all secured their spots in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming formidable opponents. England found themselves trailing against DR Congo in Atlanta but managed a thrilling turnaround thanks to their captain, Harry Kane, who netted both goals in a 2-1 victory. This win propels England into a highly anticipated match against Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium. The English team had earlier advanced from their group with victories over Panama and Croatia, plus a draw with Ghana.
The United States, playing on home soil in Santa Clara, emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Folarin Balogun scored the opening goal, though his subsequent red card left the hosts down to 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite this setback, Malik Tillman secured the win with a well-taken free-kick, ensuring the Americans’ progression after a resolute defensive performance.
Meanwhile, Belgium was involved in one of the tournament’s most electrifying matches, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 in extra time in Seattle. The Belgians were trailing until late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans brought them level, forcing the match into extra time. Tielemans then completed the comeback by converting a penalty, awarded after a VAR review, sealing Belgium’s advance to the next round.
Looking ahead, Belgium is set to face the United States in what promises to be a thrilling Round of 16 encounter. At the same time, England is bracing for a challenging clash with Mexico. As the knockout stage progresses, fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating more thrilling soccer action from these high-stakes matches.