World Cup July 1 Recap — England, Belgium and USA Reach the Round of 16

Three more Round of 32 ties were settled on July 1, and between them they produced one comfortable win, one of the wildest finishes this tournament has served up, and a red card that will shape a Round of 16 date six days out. England did the professional thing against DR Congo, USA won short-handed against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Belgium needed the very last kick of extra time — literally — to survive Senegal. For Canadian viewers now looking ahead to Canada’s own knockout tie, here is what happened and how it reshapes the board.

England 2–1 DR Congo — Kane Does the Damage

DR Congo actually led, Cipenga striking early in the seventh minute, and for a long stretch England looked like a side being made to work harder than the odds suggested. Then Harry Kane took over. His brace — headers of quality on 75 and 86 minutes — flipped the tie and carried its own slice of history: Kane is now up to 13 career World Cup goals, one clear of Pelé’s 12 on the all-time list. England were the shorter price coming in and they eventually justified it, but the margin was closer than the 8.00–9.50 outright board on Les Trois Lions would have you believe. They go through to meet Mexico on July 5.

For the squad detail behind the run, the England team profile has it, and the reshaped outright picture sits on the odds hub.

Belgium 3–2 Senegal — The Latest Goal in World Cup History

This is the one people will still be talking about at the end of the tournament. Senegal led 2–0 through Diarra (25′) and Sarr (51′) and were still two goals up after 85 minutes. Then Lukaku pulled one back on 86, Tielemans levelled on 89, and the tie dragged into extra time all square. What followed was the tournament’s longest video review and, at the end of it, a penalty to Belgium in the 125th minute. Tielemans buried it — the clock read 120+5, a stroke past the 124th minute — making it the latest goal ever scored in a men’s World Cup.

Not everyone was convinced. "I genuinely don’t believe that’s a penalty," Gary Neville said on the broadcast, adding, "I don’t think it’s a penalty on the bar that’s been set in this tournament." Roy Keane called it "very, very harsh" and noted, "You want conviction in the referee’s decision, and he was certainly hesitating a long time." Belgium, priced out at 36.00 to win the whole thing, will not care how it looked. They advance to a Round of 16 meeting with the USA on July 6.

USA 2–0 Bosnia — Ten Men and a Red-Card Headache

The USA got the job done but paid a price. Balogun opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, then was sent off on 64 minutes after a video review, leaving the Americans to play more than a half a man down. Tillman settled it on 81, and the USA held on for a 2–0 win that finished with ten on the pitch. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino was adamant afterward: "For me, never is it a red card," he said. "Never was there intention to step on the player." The trouble is the suspension stands — Balogun misses the Round of 16, and it happens to be against Belgium on July 6, a meeting of two sides who both came through the wringer on July 1. For a 26.00 outright shot, losing your scorer for the next round is a real dent.

What It Means for the Round of 16

The July 1 results lock in three knockout dates: England vs Mexico on July 5, and USA vs Belgium on July 6. Add the ties already fixed — Canada vs Morocco and Paraguay vs France on July 4 — and the bracket is filling out fast. My read: England were value-priced relative to how they actually played, Belgium rode their luck and will not get away with a slow start twice, and the USA are weaker for the Balogun ban at exactly the wrong moment. The full picture is on the knockout bracket predictions page, and the betting guide covers how I stake a knockout round where any tie can go to penalties.

Odds are decimal and current as of July 2, 2026; they are indicative and subject to movement. Confirm live CAD prices with your sportsbook. 19+. Please wager responsibly.