The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage continues with three more teams set to advance from the round of 32. Matches scheduled for Wednesday include England against DR Congo, Belgium facing Senegal, and the United States playing Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The opening game of the day will feature England and DR Congo in Atlanta. England entered the tournament with expectations of contending for the title. Their performance has been described as decent, though not consistently at the level of teams like France, Spain, or Argentina. Their group stage included a 4-2 victory over Croatia, a 0-0 draw with Ghana, and a 2-0 win against Panama where the English needed 62 minutes before getting on the board.
England possesses significant offensive power with players such as Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham. A key concern for the team is at right-back, as both Reece James and Jarell Quansah are sidelined due to injuries, potentially leading to Djed Spence starting in that position. Coach Thomas Tuchel aims for his team to play with intensity from the start, a factor that was not consistently present in their last two games.
DR Congo’s Journey and Strategy
DR Congo has garnered support from neutral fans in the United States. The team secured a surprising spot in the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. Their only defeat in the group stage was a 1-0 loss to Colombia.
The squad, led by Sébastien Desabre, is expected to be highly motivated. They feature players with Premier League experience, including Newcastle United attacker Yoane Wissa, who has scored three goals in the group stage. DR Congo is anticipated to adopt a physical and disciplined approach, likely playing in a compact 5-3-2 formation, similar to their match against Portugal, and focusing on quick counterattacks.
While England is considered the favorite, matches like this can be challenging, especially with the pressure on England to advance and DR Congo viewing it as a significant opportunity with little to lose. Declan Rice is expected to return to England‘s starting lineup, which may shift Jude Bellingham‘s role to focus on breaking down DR Congo’s defensive setup and creating space for Kane or wingers.
Belgium vs. Senegal and USA’s Challenge
The second match of the day will see Belgium and Senegal compete in Vancouver, Canada. This will be the first competitive encounter between the two nations. Both teams had similar group stage patterns, starting with underwhelming performances before securing knockout berths with decisive wins against the weakest teams in their respective groups.
Belgium, despite not being an underdog, had a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a 0-0 draw with Iran, before a 5-1 win over New Zealand. Belgium‘s lineup is expected to feature Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, alongside wingers Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard. A question for coach Rudi Garcia is at center forward, with Charles De Ketelaere and Romelu Lukaku having shared starts in the group stage.
For Senegal, coach Pape Thiaw relies on the team’s athleticism in attack, with players like Crystal Palace‘s Ismaïla Sarr, who scored three group stage goals, and Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye. Veteran captain Sadio Mané remains central to the team. 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.
Belgium is favored based on talent, experience, and an unbeaten streak of 16 games. However, Senegal is considered capable of an upset. The United States will return to action at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. national team will look for just its second-ever knockout win.
The U.S. national team’s record against European teams in the World Cup since 1990 shows one win, a 3-2 victory over Portugal in 2002, with seven draws and 13 losses. The match between England and DR Congo is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, at 12 p.m. ET.
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Source: bbc.com
