World Cup 2026: England face DR Congo, Belgium play Senegal

The World Cup Round of 16 fixture day brings exciting matchups as England look to bounce back from group-stage struggles against DR Congo (the Leopards). On the same day, Belgium and Senegal will face off, while the US must overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The World Cup 2026 knockout stage began with an action-packed day featuring three compelling Round of 16 fixtures between teams from Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The day opens with England versus DR Congo. England has faced more difficulties than expected in the group stage against African sides and now seeks to make amends against DR Congo, known as the Leopards. The stakes are high for England: victory means a place in the quarter-finals, where Mexico awaits.

Belgium and USA bid for progression

The second match sees Belgium and Senegal square off, one of Africa's stronger representatives. Clashes between European and African sides are the main theme of today's fixtures.

In the third match, the host nation USA takes the field, needing to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance. The home team enjoys the support of the home crowd, which provides extra strength, though the pressure is equally intense.

France's display casts a shadow

Before today's matches, it is worth recalling France's impressive showing in the previous round, which left a mark. The French side appeared to be one of the most difficult teams to beat in the tournament at this stage.

The evening edition's text-based live blog tracks all matches in real time, covering action on the pitch through both human reporters and artificial intelligence, ensuring the latest score information around the clock.