The group stage of the 2026 World Cup delivered its verdicts, and the round of 32 opened on Wednesday with three fixtures that paired group winners against sides that squeezed through as the best third-placed finishers. England, Belgium and the United States all entered the knockout phase as section leaders, while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Bosnia-Herzegovina arrived with the licence of teams that had already exceeded external expectations. The day’s first match, in Atlanta, pitted an England side that has yet to convince against a Congolese team making its debut in a World Cup elimination match.

England’s path to the last 32 was efficient rather than emphatic. A 4-2 victory over Croatia on the opening day was followed by a goalless draw with Ghana and a 2-0 win against Panama that required patience. Harry Kane scored three times across those three matches, taking his all-time World Cup tally to 11 goals and becoming England’s record scorer in the tournament. British media have noted that Thomas Tuchel’s team has not yet produced the sustained authority expected of a side aiming to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy. The Congolese, coached by the Frenchman Sébastien Desabre, advanced from Group K after holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw, losing narrowly to Colombia and beating Uzbekistan 3-1. Six members of their squad play in England, including forward Yoane Wissa, who scored three of the team’s four group-stage goals, and defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, both former England youth internationals. Desabre told reporters that the pressure belonged entirely to England, describing his team’s campaign as already a success.

In Seattle, Belgium faced Senegal in a meeting of two sides that had navigated uneven group campaigns. Belgium topped Group G after draws with Egypt and Iran and a 5-1 rout of New Zealand; the performance against the All Whites restored some confidence after a stuttering start. Senegal lost to France and Norway before a 5-0 defeat of Iraq secured their passage as one of the best third-placed teams. The West Africans’ record World Cup scorer, Ismaila Sarr, entered the match with four goals, while Sadio Mané had yet to impose himself on the tournament. Later, in Santa Clara, the co-hosts United States took on Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Americans won Group D despite a final-match defeat by Turkey, and the return of Christian Pulisic from injury reinforced a side that, according to midfielder Gio Reyna, felt the country rallying around it. Bosnia reached the knockout phase for the first time after beating Qatar 3-1, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the line.

The winners of the day’s three ties would move into a round of 16 already populated by several surprise packages. Germany and the Netherlands had been eliminated on penalties by Paraguay and Morocco respectively, while France, Brazil, Norway and Mexico had all advanced. Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador meant that the victor of England’s meeting with DR Congo would face the co-hosts in the next round, a prospect that sharpened the stakes in Atlanta.