World Cup Round of 32 continues with Belgium vs. Senegal and USA vs. Bosnia

By Sanjay Menon — 1 July 2026 — 5 min read

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout round continues with three more teams set to advance and three to exit after the Round of 32. Matches scheduled for Wednesday include England against DR Congo, Belgium facing Senegal, and the United States hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The opening game features contending England hoping to end the run of DR Congo in Atlanta. The second match takes place in Vancouver, Canada, where Belgium and Senegal will compete. Finally, co-hosts the United States will return to action at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

England and DR Congo prepare for Atlanta clash

England entered the World Cup with a realistic chance of winning the title. Their performance has been described as decent, though not consistently at the level of teams like France, Spain, or Argentina. The team showed strong form in the second half of their opening match against Croatia, but subsequent efforts against Ghana and Panama were noted as less dynamic.

Harry Kane has become England‘s all-time FIFA World Cup goalscorer. The team possesses offensive firepower with Kane, a selection of wing options including Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham in midfield. A key concern for England‘s starting lineup is at right-back, with both Reece James and Jarell Quansah sidelined due to injuries. This situation makes Djed Spence a likely candidate to play on the right side of the starting eleven.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel faces the challenge of ensuring his team plays with intensity from the start, a factor that was not consistently present in their last two games, despite England being heavily favored. Declan Rice is expected to start for England.

DR Congo is participating in its first World Cup since 1974 and has garnered support from neutral fans in the United States. The team secured a knockout berth as one of the best third-placed teams. Their only defeat in the group stage came in a match against Colombia. Sébastien Desabre‘s squad is expected to be highly motivated, with significant Premier League experience among its players, including Newcastle United attacker Yoane Wissa, who has scored three goals in the group stage.

DR Congo is anticipated to adopt a highly physical yet disciplined approach, likely sitting deep in a compact formation, such as the 5-3-2 used against Portugal, and seeking quick counterattacks. While England is the favorite, matches like this can be unpredictable, especially given the pressure on England to advance and DR Congo‘s opportunity with less to lose.

Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid playmaker, was recognized as the Man of the Match in a win against Panama, playing in a deeper role. With Declan Rice‘s expected return, Bellingham‘s role will shift to focus on breaking down DR Congo‘s defensive block, aiming to create space for Kane or wingers. He is also expected to be a secondary scoring threat for England.

Belgium and Senegal clash in Vancouver

The second match of the day in Vancouver, Canada, will be the first competitive meeting between Belgium and Senegal. Both teams had similar group stage patterns, starting with underwhelming performances in their first two games before securing knockout spots with significant wins in their final group matches.

Senegal faced a challenging group that included France and Norway, losing to both teams. However, they secured advancement by defeating Iraq 5-0. Belgium‘s group stage was considered more disappointing, with draws against Egypt and Iran before a 5-1 victory over New Zealand.

Belgium‘s lineup is expected to have few surprises, with Kevin De Bruyne as the central creative force, supported by wingers like Manchester City‘s Jérémy Doku and Arsenal‘s Leandro Trossard. Coach Rudi Garcia‘s main decision point is at center forward, where neither Charles De Ketelaere nor Romelu Lukaku has been consistently convincing.

For Senegal, head coach Pape Thiaw relies on the team’s athleticism in attack. Key players include Crystal Palace‘s Ismaïla Sarr, who scored three goals in the group stage, Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, and veteran captain Sadio Mané. A significant concern for Senegal is the absence of star goalkeeper Edouard Mendy due to a knee injury, with Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw expected to start in his place.

During their match, Senegal held a 1-0 lead over Belgium at halftime, with Habib Diarra scoring in the 25th minute. Senegal demonstrated excellent play and created several scoring opportunities. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia may seek a calmer approach from his team, which will need renewed energy to recover in the game. Senegal, meanwhile, can aim to maintain their current pace and attacking strategy.

USA faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco

The United States will return to the field to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. This match is expected to draw a supportive home crowd at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The United States earned six points in their group stage with wins over Paraguay and Australia, alongside a loss to Türkiye.

Historically, the U.S. national team‘s record against European teams in the World Cup has been challenging. Since the 1990 World Cup, the team has faced European opponents 21 times, securing one win, seven draws, and thirteen losses. Their sole victory in this period was a 3-2 win against Portugal in 2002. Since 1990, the U.S. team has won one World Cup knockout match and lost five.

The matches are scheduled for Wednesday, July 1.

Source: sports.yahoo.com