Three matches. One of the most dramatic nights of this FIFA World Cup 2026™ so far. In two of them, a team came back from behind to win it before the tiebreakers. One more dramatic than the other. The last one depicted a rare incident: a team with one man down scoring against a team at full strength. Heartbreak for many fans, while others get one more chance.
Every twist, every upset, every comeback — live on ZEE 5. Get the ZEE5 FIFA Quarterly Plan at ₹799 and stream FIFA World Cup 2026™ all the way to the final.
England 2–1 DR Congo — Kane Rescues the Three Lions
They were trailing for more than an hour. DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga punished England’s high line in the seventh minute — a diagonal ball, a misjudged bounce from Djed Spence, and a composed finish at the near post. 1–0. And then DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi produced one of his greatest performances ever: denying Bellingham multiple times, another smother on Kane at the near post in added time. England went in 1–0 down having created everything except a goal.
Tuchel made his move on the hour. Rashford and Madueke off. Gordon and Saka on. The game shifted. Gordon’s cross in the 74th minute was perfect; Kane’s header was merciless. 1–1. Then, in the 85th minute, Gordon found Kane in tight space on the right002C and Kane did the rest — a rocket into the top corner from an almost impossible angle. 2–1. England through. DR Congo out, and utterly unlucky.
Kane’s double sets up an England vs Mexico Round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca, July 6, 5:30 AM IST. Mexico have conceded zero goals in four matches. England were exposed for 74 minutes tonight. That fixture is going to be something.
Belgium 3–2 Senegal (AET) — A Comeback That Should Not Have Happened
Senegal were the better team for 85 minutes. They led 2–0 through Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr, defended their lead with discipline, and were 30 seconds from the Round of 16 when Belgium scored twice in 161 seconds to force extra time.
Romelu Lukaku, coming off the bench, pulled one back in the 86th minute. Then Youri Tielemans rose to meet a Leandro Trossard cross and hammered a header past Mory Diaw in the 89th. 2–2. Extra time.
The decisive moment came in the 120 + 5th minute. A VAR review awarded a penalty for a foul on Tielemans inside the box. Senegal’s protests were furious. The contact was marginal. Tielemans stepped up and converted into the top-left corner. 3–2. Belgium through.
It is the cruellest of exits for Senegal. They outplayed Belgium, outran Belgium, and were still eliminated on a late penalty after a VAR call that even neutral observers found difficult to accept. Mané, Ndiaye, Sarr — all of them deserved more than this tournament gave them.
USA 2–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina — Ten Men, Two Goals, One Freese
The USA’s night was something else entirely. Folarin Balogun scored in the 45th minute to give the hosts a 1–0 lead — his second goal after having his first effort disallowed due to offside. Then, in the 64th minute, he was sent off for serious foul play following a VAR review. USA was down to ten men for the final 26 minutes.
Bosnia came forward. Matt Freese stood in their way as Bosnia threw everything at him. And then, in the 82nd minute, Malik Tillman stepped up for a free-kick just outside the box and curled it over the wall and into the top-left corner. 2–0. Ten men. The stadium erupted.
Bosnia pushed desperately in stoppage time — Anes Mašić forcing two late scares — but Freese and the post combined to preserve the clean sheet. USA through. Belgium next.
The Round of 16 Is Taking Shape
USA vs Belgium is now set. Two teams that scraped through their Round of 32 ties in the most dramatic fashion possible — Belgium on a controversial penalty, USA with ten men. Neither will be at full strength emotionally. Both have the quality to go much further.
The bracket is forming: France plays Paraguay, Norway faces Brazil, Mexico takes on England, Canada plays Morocco, and the full Round of 16 picture will be complete after the remaining R32 matches.
Spain vs Austria, Portugal vs Croatia, Switzerland vs Algeria, and more Round of 32 action is coming — stream it all live on ZEE 5, India’s official home of FIFA World Cup 2026™.
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