France and England advance to Round of 16 at FIFA World Cup 2026 with commanding victories in Round of 32 matches.
Lead:
The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued its knockout phase with several high-profile nations securing their places in the Round of 16. France defeated Sweden 3-0, while England narrowly escaped an upset against the Democratic Republic of Congo with a 2-1 victory. Multiple European and global teams have already progressed, while several unexpected performances have created drama throughout the tournament.
Several historical records have been broken during the tournament so far. Notable players including Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and other world-class athletes have achieved significant milestones in their World Cup campaigns, adding to the competitive intensity of the competition.
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France vs. Sweden — Kylian Mbappe continued his World Cup scoring streak with two goals as France secured a 3-0 victory over Sweden in Round of 32 play, advancing to the next phase while cementing Mbappe's place among World Cup history's elite scorers.England vs. Democratic Republic of Congo — Harry Kane scored twice to lead England past a spirited Democratic Republic of Congo side in a dramatic 2-1 triumph, allowing England to progress despite a strong second-half challenge from their African opponents. Kane surpassed Pele in all-time World Cup scoring records with this performance.Belgium vs. Senegal — Belgium mounted a dramatic comeback victory over Senegal with a 3-2 result after extra time, securing their Round of 16 spot despite Senegal's strong first-half performance. Romelu Lukaku continued his record-breaking tournament with another goal.United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — The U.S. national team advanced to the Round of 16 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating defensive solidity and clinical finishing in their knockout match.Netherlands Coaching Change — Ronald Koeman announced his resignation as Netherlands head coach following his team's first-round elimination from the World Cup, concluding a controversial tenure marked by player selection disputes.Barcelona Contract Extension — Barcelona confirmed the contract renewal of Danish defender Andreas Christensen through 2028, extending the defender's commitment to the Spanish club for an additional two seasons.What to Watch:
Spain faces Austria on Thursday in Round of 32 action, with Luis de la Fuente's squad seeking to advance toward their second World Cup title. Portugal will take on Croatia in another Thursday fixture.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has scheduled an extraordinary general assembly meeting for July 8 to discuss significant organizational matters following recent developments in national football administration.