More than half of the 2026 World Cup’s round of 16 places were secured by the end of the day on Wednesday, July 1, with the United States men’s national team earning its first World Cup knockout victory in 24 years with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The U.S. win means all three 2026 World Cup host nations reached the round of 16.
Earlier in the day, England’s 2-1 win over DR Congo started the day’s action in Atlanta, then Belgium defeated Senegal in extra time after a late comeback in Seattle.
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Watch all 2026 World Cup games on Fox and FS1. Spanish language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock.
The United States knows who its next opponent will be in the 2026 World Cup.
Another round of 16 match is set. The U.S. will take on Belgium.
SANTA CLARA, CA — This is the kind of gritty win that’s going to make the country go ga-ga for the U.S. men’s national team.
For those who haven’t already.
Playing with 10 men for the last 36 minutes because of a red card by Folarin Balogun, against a feisty Bosnia and Herzegovina team and with a ref who was overmatched, the USMNT played with the kind of moxy Americans love. Especially when it’s by athletes wearing U-S-A on their chest. — Nancy Armour
SANTA CLARA, CA — The U.S. men’s national team turned a gritty performance with 10 men, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the World Cup round of 32.
Folarin Balogun opened the scoring just before halftime with his third goal of the tournament, but he would be involved in the game’s most contentious moment in the 64th minute.
Balogun was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for stepping on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović.
As the USMNT dropped back looking to hold onto its one-goal advantage, Malik Tillman stepped up with a massive free kick in the 82nd minute to provide an insurance goal.
The USMNT will now move on to face Belgium in the round of 16 in Seattle on Monday, June 6.
Yes, 10 minutes!
The U.S., down to 10 players, must keep Bosnia and Herzegovina from scoring twice in order to advance to the round of 16.
In the 82nd minute, Malik Tillman hooked his free kick from just outside the 18-yard box over the Bosnia and Herzegovina defense and past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
It was a beauty of a goal and one the U.S. desperately needed while playing down a man after the red card to Folarin Balogun.
SANTA CLARA, CA ― A wild turn of events at Levi’s Stadium after United States men’s national soccer team attacker Folarin Balogun was served a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 64th minute.
Balogun was going for the ball against Tarik Muharemovic which ended in Balogun stepping on the ankle of the Bosnian player. Both took a tumble and went down with injury.
A delay in the match ensured as both players were tended to with injury. The referee reviewed the play and determined that Balogun would be assessed a red card for the infringement.
➤ World Cup red card, yellow card and suspension rules
LeBron James has acknowledged USA soccer star Folarin Balogun.
The striker once again got the party going for USMNT in the 2026 World Cup, scoring the opening goal of the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina as the team goes for its first knockout round win since 2002. The score happened just before halftime in the 45th minute, with Balogun got the perfect bounce in the penalty box and swiftly kicked the ball past Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj for the 1-0 lead.
After he got the score, Balogun hit the signature James celebration, “The Silencer,” as his teammates embraced him and Levi’s Stadium erupted.
This one will count.
After Folarin Balogun had a goal called back earlier in the first half, his shot in the 45th minute nutmegs Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and into the back of the net.
After scoring, Balogun hit the LeBron James “silencer celebration.”
There’s elation (and relief) at Levi’s Stadium as the USA leads 1-0.
For a moment, it appeared as if Folarin Balogun had broken the scoreless deadlock, but the USMNT forward was ruled offside and the goal did not count.
The 2026 World Cup round of 32 could feature a result 24 years in the making for the United States men’s national team.
It is a major day for the USMNT as it plays in the knockout round of the tournament on its home soil, facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1. It’s a stage the U.S. were expected to make, but after winning its group in impressive fashion, there’s optimism for a deep run into the bracket − and one that hasn’t been done in quite some time. — Jordan Mendoza
BIH is the FIFA abbreviation for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European country on the Balkan Peninsula. In southeast Europe, it is bordered by Croatia to the north and west, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the south. On the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea is Italy.
➤ Are Bosnia and Herzegovina one country?
USMNT starting XI vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Matt Freese, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
Bosnia and Herzegovina starting XI vs. USMNT: Nikola Vasilj, Tarik Muharemović, Sead Kolašinac, Amar Dedić, Nikola Katić, Stjepan Radeljić, Armin Gigović, Ivan Šunjić, Ermedin Demirović, Edin Džeko, Kerim Alajbegović
SANTA CLARA, CA — The U.S. men’s national team may be favored to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32, but history will not be on its side.
This is a program that has played at 11 previous World Cups, but has only managed to win one knockout round game. — Seth Vertelney
What a comeback! Despite trailing by two goals in the 85th minute, Belgium completed a stunning comeback and defeated Senegal 3-2, thanks to a PK goal in extra time.
Now, as is the case with most penalty calls on this big a stage, this decision wasn’t without controversy. It wasn’t clear whether or not the Senegal defender actually interfered with Belgium’s attack on first view. However, through VAR, the referees determined that a penalty was necessary.
Read the full story, and watch the critical late-match moments, here.
Youri Teilemans’ extra-time penalty kick winner pushed Belgium into the Round of 16 as Belgium overcame a 2-0 deficit with three straight goals in a spirited comeback victory July 1 in Seattle. Read the full recap of the match here, and return tonight to see who Belgium will play next: the winner of the U.S. vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match.
An extra-time penalty kick on a contested call? It doesn’t get much more suspenseful than this. A late penalty call in the box in Belgium’s favor led to a chance for the side to go ahead late and avoid a shootout. Belgium’s Youri Teilemans converted on the kick to take the late lead, 3-2.
Follow live updates from the match here.
The United States will be facing one of their own in the round of 32.
USMNT faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1 in the first knockout round game, and on the opposite side of the Stars and Stripes is a player from the U.S.
Bosnia and Herzegovina features Esmir Bajraktarević, who is from Wisconsin. Fans will be sure to notice Bajraktarević, since it’s one of the few instances in which a U.S. born player will be trying to beat his home country. So what is there to know about Bajraktarević, and why does he play for Bosnia Herzegovina?
Read the full story here.
The Seattle Seahawks 12th Man has some competition with soccer fans after Belgium supporters at the side’s World Cup round of 32 match against Senegal caused mini earthquakes on Wednesday, July 1.
The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network reported on X during the game at Lumen Field in Seattle that each of the Red Devils’ goals in the second half caused mini earthquakes in the area. Romelu Lukaku got Belgium on the board with a quick strike in front of the net in the 86th minute and the ground shook. Then, in the 89th minute, Youri Tielemans score the equalizer, causing even more seismic activity.
Read the full story here.
Belgium and Senegal are knotted at 2-2 after 97 minutes of play. Here’s what to know World Cup extra time and shootouts, should the July 1 game get to that. Follow live updates from the match here.
Read here for what to know about extra time rules for World Cup matches.
Belgium has knotted up the game against Senegal at 2-2 as the side scored two goals in quick succession at the 90-minute mark. Now this is getting interesting. Get live updates from the match here.
They’re not finished yet. Belgium narrowed Senegal’s lead to 2-1 with a late goal as the game approaches stoppage time. Get live updates from the match here.
ATLANTA ― Harry Kane was a lighthouse in a storm Wednesday, July 1, a beacon of hope when all else failed.
No matter how unnerving England’s match against DR Congo became in Atlanta, Kane never yielded. He was calm, poised, brilliant, even, and when the Three Lions needed a hero, the 32-year-old dug deep, pulling out a World Cup rescue mission. Kane unleashed a masterful performance when the waves of defeat were rapidly crashing in.
DR Congo stunned England with an early goal in the 7th minute, leaving Kane and every Three Lions fan at Mercedes-Benz too stunned to speak, rubbing their heads in confusion. Les Léopards carried a 1-0 lead into halftime behind a defensive masterclass from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Yet something shifted after the break. England began to slowly wear DR Congo down with its pressure and its advances. The once unflappable defensive wall DR Congo put up came tumbling down with one inexplicably wondrous Kane header in the 75th minute.
Daylight. Read the full story here.
Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr has now scored in three consecutive game. Watch his latest feat here.
An Ismaila Sarr goal has Belgium on the ropes as Senegal has taken a 2-0 lead over favored Belgium. Get live updates on the match here.
Three fans ran onto the field in the 31st minute of the round of 32 World Cup game between Belgium and Senegal at Lumen Field in Seattle on Wednesday, July 1, according to Telemundo. The fans disrupted play for about a minute as they ran around on the field. Senegal had a 1-0 lead at the time.
Read the full story here.
Kane’s first goal for the Three Lions came in the 75th minute on Wednesday against DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It tied Pelé’s World Cup goals record with 12.
Kane’s second goal came in the 86th minute, breaking Pelé’s World Cup goals record and winning it for England.
HOUSTON — Canada is into the round of 16 for the first time in the country’s World Cup history, and its reward? A date on July 4 with Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semifinalists who just eliminated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
Not exactly the gift Canada coach Jesse Marsch would have handpicked.
Before Canada’s 2-1 loss to Switzerland in the Group B finale, Marsch described preparing for Switzerland as a “horror show.” His assessment of Morocco was even more dire. — Danielle Lerner
A joyous celebration turned deadly in Mexico City as fans took to the streets after Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the World Cup round of 32.
Three people died of suffocation near the Angel of Independence landmark, the capital’s health secretariat said early Wednesday, July 1. The people were among a crowd of thousands who gathered late into the night around Paseo de la Reforma after the match, which was delayed for an hour by storms.
“After receiving advanced resuscitation efforts, the deaths of a 44-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from suffocation have been confirmed,” the health authority initially said on social media, according to Reuters.
Authorities later said a 48-year-old woman was treated for asphyxiation and died after being taken to hospital. — Steve Gardner
After three games, here are the teams through to the round of 16. Additional teams will advance as games are played throughout the week.
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