The 2026 FIFA World Cup continued with more matches from the first round of the knockout stage. England defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1, Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2, and the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. All three teams advanced to the next round, but each in a different way.

England was expected to easily defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the match was not a formality for them. The African team stayed in the game, managed to disrupt England's build-up play, and kept the match close for a long time. The 2-1 scoreline shows that England secured the victory, but they had to fight for it until the end.

For the English team, this is an important step after the group stage, where they first defeated Croatia, then drew with Ghana, and then secured their place in the knockout stage. In the knockout stage, it's not about beautiful play, but about efficiency. England found that against the Democratic Republic of Congo, although there were moments of concern.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is eliminated from the tournament, but not without a fight. They showed in the group stage that they could compete with strong opponents. Against England, they showed their fighting spirit, but they lacked the precision and experience needed in crucial moments.

Belgium won one of the most dramatic matches of the knockout stage so far. They defeated Senegal 3-2 and showed that even after a difficult group stage, they could find their attacking strength at a crucial moment. Belgium drew with Egypt and Iran in the group stage and entered the playoffs without the aura of a clear favorite. However, they put on a performance against Senegal that could boost their confidence.

Senegal, on the other hand, is eliminated after a match in which they were close to extra time or a comeback. The 2-3 scoreline is harsh because the team remained in the match until the end. However, Belgium was more productive and more precise in the decisive phases. That's often the difference between advancing and being eliminated in knockout matches.

The United States won their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina most comfortably of the three. The 2-0 victory was clean, controlled, and very valuable for the home team. After losing to Turkey in the final group match, the Americans needed to prove that their previous performances were not a fluke. They did so against Bosnia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout stage as one of the teams that had to fight for their place until the end. However, they could not find a sufficient response against the United States. The American team took care of their defense, capitalized on their chances, and did not allow for much drama. For Bosnia, the elimination is a disappointment, but simply participating among the top 32 is a significant achievement.

In the round of 16, England will face Mexico, while the United States will face Belgium. This home championship is gaining another compelling storyline: the USA will play for a place in the next round against an experienced European opponent, while Mexico will defend the dream of the home fans against England.

The knockout stage has once again shown that paper predictions are not enough. England had to fight, Belgium survived a tough shootout, and the United States handled the pressure of playing at home. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are eliminated, but all three teams played the tournament with honor. Those who advanced were the ones who were more precise and calm in the decisive moments.

gnews.cz - GH