England, Belgium and co-hosts the United States advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after overcoming resilient opposition in another entertaining round of knockout-stage action.
England, Belgium and the United States secured their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after hard-fought victories in the latest Round of 32 fixtures, with all three teams overcoming determined opponents to keep their title hopes alive.
England edged the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium to become the first team from the latest batch of knockout fixtures to advance. The Three Lions were made to work for their victory as DR Congo pushed them throughout the contest, but England ultimately held on to book their place in the last 16.
On Thursday, July 2, Belgium survived a stern test from Senegal, claiming a thrilling 3-2 victory at Seattle Stadium. The high-scoring encounter saw both sides produce attacking football, but Belgium’s quality in the final third proved decisive as they secured progression to the next round.
Co-hosts the United States delighted home supporters with a disciplined 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The Americans controlled the match from start to finish, producing a composed performance to seal their place in the Round of 16 while keeping alive hopes of a deep run on home soil.
With these victories, England, Belgium and the United States joined the growing list of teams advancing to the Round of 16 as the knockout phase of FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to gather momentum.
Results
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- England 2-1 DR Congo — Atlanta Stadium
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- Belgium 3-2 Senegal — Seattle Stadium
- United States 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
