Matchday 22 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 was effectively a tale of close shaves, heartbreaks and controversial refereeing decisions, as three more teams were sent packing, while the other three advanced to the round of 16.

Striver.Football recaps all the action from an unforgettable day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Harry Kane Fires England into the Round of 16

For 74 grueling minutes, the tournament was staring down the barrel of one of its greatest modern shocks. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo, making an unprecedented appearance in the knockout phase, unlocked England’s right flank inside seven minutes. 

Brian Cipenga took full advantage of an early defensive lapse, slotting home coolly past Jordan Pickford to send shockwaves through Atlanta.

Thomas Tuchel’s men looked completely shell-shocked. The midfield laboured, passes went astray, and England had to wait until the 30th minute just to register their first attempt on goal, a header from Jude Bellingham. Moments later, the Three Lions survived an absolute scare when Yoane Wissa rattled the upright from point-blank range.

The shift came from the dugout. The introduction of Anthony Gordon injected immediate directness into England’s sluggish final third. 

Operating with newfound urgency, Gordon turned creator, turning the Congolese backline twice to deliver two pinpoint deliveries. 

Harry Kane did what clinical modern forwards do: he anticipated, executed, and struck twice in the final 15 minutes to turn a nightmare into a 2-1 ticket to the Round of 16 against co-hosts Mexico.

Belgium Complete Stunning Comeback Against Senegal

Over in Seattle, Lumen Field bore witness to an absolute classic as Belgium pulled off an unbelievable tactical resurrection, recovering from a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time.

For the vast majority of the evening, the Lions of Teranga completely dictated the terms of engagement. Exploiting space out wide with devastating speed, strikes from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr deservedly put the African nation two goals ahead.

Senegal very nearly put the tie completely out of reach when they broke through for a third, denied only by a world-class, fingertips save from Thibaut Courtois that kept Belgian hopes alive.

That single intervention entirely altered the psychological state of the contest. Belgium finally came alive in the 86th minute, striking twice in a frantic three-minute window to completely stun the Senegalese defence and force an unexpected period of extra time. 

The final, heartbreaking twist arrived in the 125th minute of play. Following a dramatic VAR review, Lamine Kamara was adjudged to have fouled Youri Tielemans in the box, who then stepped up and calmly converted from the penalty spot to book a dramatic date with the United States.

USA Progress Despite Balogun's Controversial Red Card

In California, the United States Men's National Team booked their spot in the next round with a controlled yet eventful 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

The breakthrough arrived on the stroke of halftime. Folarin Balogun showed sharp penalty-box instincts, finding the net in the 44th minute to hand the tournament co-hosts a deserved cushion. 

However, the script took a dramatic twist in the 64th minute when Balogun was shown a straight red card following a VAR review, forcing the USMNT to play the final half-hour with ten men.

Rather than collapsing under pressure, the tactical structure held firm. Bosnia threw bodies forward, but the space left behind proved fatal. In the 81st minute, Malik Tillman capably exploited a counter-attacking opening to slam home the second, putting the tie completely out of reach.

Matchday 22 By The Numbers

1966 - The year detailed records began; England’s 30-minute wait for their first shot against DR Congo was their longest opening drought in World Cup history.

3 - Goals scored by Belgium in the final 39 minutes of action to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Senegal.

125 - The exact minute on the clock when Youri Tielemans converted the winning penalty to decide the epic battle in Seattle.

30 - Minutes played by the USMNT with ten men following Folarin Balogun's 64th-minute expulsion.

0 - Shots on target conceded by the United States after going down a man, securing a clean sheet to seal the victory.