First time matchups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 had plenty of goals in store

· Yahoo Sports

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What is up, people of the internet? Germany just got knocked out in humiliating fashion against Paraguay and the fallout from the elimination is already ramping up; a new coach might come and I hope someone does (looking at you, Jürgen Klopp). I’ve decided to eliminate (see what I did there) that match from my mind and watch today’s set of fixtures.

We’ve got England vs. DR Congo, Belgium vs. Senegal, and United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mexico awaits the winner of the match between England and DR Congo, so let’s see what happens there and in those other matches that came after it.

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Con-goal!

DR Congo surprised everyone by taking the lead over the 1966 World Cup winners! Chancel Mbemba crossed the ball in which the England defenders couldn’t get rid of. This allowed Brian Cipenga to pick up the cross and beat a sliding Djed Spence and Jordan Pickford at his near post for a shock lead over the Three Lions.

No Pen, No Kane

A controversial moment arose near the end of the first half as England star Harry Kane was played inside and it looked like he was taken down, but the referee denied giving England a penalty, which Kane would’ve surely taken. Replays showed that there was a slight push from Axel Tuanzebe and Mpasi clipping his feet. Despite that, a penalty was still not given even with a brief check with the Video Assistant Referee, resulting in a loud chorus of boos from the England fans.

Harry the Hero!

England were patient and waited for an opportunity to come, which came after 75 minutes played. Rice’s cross fell to Anthony Gordon on the far side of the box, who then crossed it to Kane in the middle, evading and beating Tuanzebe in the air to head home the equalizer that England so fairly deserved.

King Kane will not be silenced!

Kane winning games? Inevitable.

Super-sub Gordon was at it again as Bellingham’s shot was deflected away by Mpasi, but only as far as Gordon. The newly minted FC Barcelona winger found Kane just outside the box, where the Bayern Munich man dribbled inside and slammed a ferocious “no-look” shot past Mpasi to give England the lead for the first time in the match. Roberto Firmino would be proud of that goal.

He was Sarr close to scoring

Ismaïla Sarr nearly put the African nation in front when Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ diving save went as far as the Crystal Palace winger, but he scuffled his shot which resulted in the ball going off the post and out.

Oh, we’re Habib a party alright!

After 25 minutes played, Sadio Mané crossed the ball from the left wing where Sarr headed it towards goal but again went off the post. Fortunately, Habib Diarra was there to take advantage of Courtois committing to Sarr’s header to tap in an easy goal to put the Lions of Teranga 1-0 up.

What a save by the keeper from De Cuyper!

Just before the end of the first half, Belgian fullback Maxim De Cupyer tried his luck from distance, but Mory Diaw in the Senegalese goal parries the ball away.

That’ll put an Ismaïla on your face!

Five minutes after the start of the second half, Moussa Niakhaté’s long pass found a breaking Sarr who held off Brandon Mechele and Arthur Theate to smash the ball home past Courtois and give the Senegalese a 2-0 lead. Surely, they’re through to the last 16, right?

Game on!

A lucky deflection lands at the feet of substitute Thomas Meunier, who crossed the ball low on the ground for fellow substitute Romelu Lukaku to get a goal back for the Red Devils. There’s four minutes plus stoppage time left, can they do it?

Youri not Sorry

During an attacking phase for Belgium, a cross-field switch found its way to Diego Moreira. He plays it back to Leandro Trossard who whips a ball in to Youri Tielemans who managed to sneak a header past two defenders and the goalkeeper to give Belgium a dramatic equalizer and force extra time.

Trying to Mbaye us some time

Senegal did not want an elimination after all their hard work to go 2-0 up. In second half extra time, Bayern Munich lad Bara Sapoko Ndiaye ran into the space to the left of the Belgian box and played the ball into the area. Ibrahim Mbaye met the cutback, but his first time shot goes wide of the target.

Don’t Lukebakio in Anger

Amadou Onana spots Diego Moreira making a run down the left and plays the ball through to him. Moreira slipped but he managed to get a decent low cross in, where Tielemans and Lamine Camara both missed the cross. The ball ended up with Lukebakio, whose shot pinged off the top of the crossbar and out. There’s something in there that the referee wants to check…

Youri, the Tielemans of the hour

As it turns out, the challenge by Camara on Tielemans was deemed enough for a penalty. Following a lengthy delay, Tielemans stepped up to take the spot kick and fired high into the top corner to send Belgium through to the last 16. Tielemans’ goal, timed at 124:43, is both the latest goal ever scored and the latest match-winning goal at a World Cup.

No-limpico!

The co-hosts nearly got a scare when Kerim Alajbegović swung a corner in that was destined to go straight into the goal, an Olimpico goal. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese is on hand to parry the ball away from danger.

The force couldn’t get that ball in

Weston McKennie surged down the right flank and crossed it into the box. Nikola Vasilj managed to parry the ball, but it went straight to the head of Antonee Robinson whose accidental header went high over the bar.

Folarin and the offside flag

Bosnia tried playing out from the back but Ivan Šunjić was caught in possession by Malik Tillman, who then tipped the ball off to McKennie. The Juventus midfielder played it through to Folarin Balogun who beat Nikola Katić on the turn to fire a low shot past Vasilj to give the USMNT the lead after just over half an hour played./e

Folarinside this time!

Near the end of the first half, Vasilj’s kick from his area went as far as Tim Ream in the United States defence. McKennie let Ream’s pass run through to Tillman, who played the ball through to Balogun. The AS Monaco striker took advantage of slack defending from Stjepan Radeljić and Tarik Muharemović to make sure his goal counted this time.

Stop slacking around

Bosnia clear the ball away straight to McKennie who played a ball over the top to Sergiño Dest. The PSV Eindhoven wingback’s awkward pass back into the box wasn’t cleared by the away side and they were nearly punished when Balogun nearly doubled his tally if it weren’t for his shot going just over the goal.

Folared Balogun

Just past the hour mark, Balogun jostled with Muharemović for a ball when the American forward planted his foot down on the Bosnia defender’s ankle on the way down from the aerial duel. The referee reviewed the incident and brandished a red card to the former Arsenal striker; once a red, always a red it seems.

LeBron James of Socc…what do you mean no goal?!

Tillman and McKennie combined to set up Christian Pulisic who took advantage of Vasilj’s hesitation to force the ball home with just over 10 minutes to play. It didn’t count due to Pulisic being in an offside position from Tillman’s pass.

Bye bye, Bosnia

On 82 minutes, the home side get a free kick in a dangerous position. Malik Tillman takes it and scores despite Vasilj getting a hand to it. That’ll surely do it for the USMNT!

That was such a jam-packed matchday at the World Cup! England nearly going out to Congolese heroics but Harry Kane denying them the impossible dream seemed to be par for the course for the Bayern Munich striker’s caliber. Belgium also had a close call but managed to claw back the game and win it after a nerve-wracking period of extra time; Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans came up clutch for the Belgians with his 89th-minute equalizer and his penalty deep into second half extra time stoppage time.

The USMNT meanwhile continues their otherwise perfect record at the World Cup by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina thanks to goals from Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman, but the fun doesn’t end there! Spain plays Austria later,followed by Portugal vs. Croatia and Switzerland vs. Algeria. The day after that is the big one: World Cup holders Argentina vs. fairytale team Cabo Verde who worked hard to earn a spot in the knockouts. Colombia and Ghana wrap up the last match of the round before the last 16 kicks off in less than 24 hours.

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