Day 21 of the 2026 World Cup was not short on drama. Harry Kane pulled England from the brink. Belgium produced the biggest comeback of the tournament — and scored the latest goal in World Cup history. And the USA won a knockout match with ten men for the first time since, well, ever. Here is everything you need to know.
Kane saves England’s blushes — again
For long, agonising stretches in Atlanta, it looked as though England were heading for an exit that would have dwarfed Euro 2016 in terms of sheer humiliation. DR Congo, playing their first-ever World Cup knockout match, went ahead in the seventh minute through Brian Cipenga — completely unmarked at the far post after Djed Spence lost track of his run — and spent much of the afternoon making England look ordinary.
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was simply extraordinary, denying Jude Bellingham twice with outstanding saves, blocking Kane from close range and keeping a lead that felt thoroughly deserved. Yoane Wissa hit the post when 2-0 could have been the scoreline. Aaron Wan-Bissaka — yes, the former Manchester United right-back, playing for DR Congo — cleared a Rashford shot off the line. It was that kind of afternoon.
Then came the substitution that changed everything. Anthony Gordon came on and immediately transformed England’s attacking threat. His cross in the 75th minute was met by Kane with a glancing header — 1-1. With four minutes remaining, Gordon kept another move alive and found Kane on the edge of the area. The captain lashed it into the top corner with a brilliance that belied the tension surrounding everything that had come before it.
The scenes in London were as frantic as the ones in Atlanta. England had survived. Kane’s brace took him to 13 World Cup goals all-time, moving him past Pelé. He is now fifth on the all-time list, with only Messi, Mbappé, Klose and Ronaldo ahead of him. His verdict on the evening was simple: “That was one of my favourite England games.” Given the circumstances, that says a great deal about the man.
England meet Mexico at the Azteca in the Round of 16. It will need to be considerably better than this.
The greatest Belgium comeback — again
At 2-0 down with five minutes of regulation time remaining in Seattle, Belgium were done. Habib Diarra had opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a smart finish, and Ismaïla Sarr had doubled the lead six minutes into the second half with a brilliant individual goal — controlling Moussa Niakhaté’s long pass on his chest before thundering the ball into the top-right corner. Rudi Garcia had even withdrawn Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku after falling behind. It looked like the end.
It was not the end.
Romelu Lukaku, introduced at half-time, delivered the kind of predatory near-post finish in the 86th minute that only he produces. Three minutes later, Leandro Trossard floated a deep cross into the area and Youri Tielemans rose ahead of Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw — who misjudged his position entirely — to nod in the equaliser. Pandemonium. Extra time.
With penalties seemingly inevitable and the clock deep into the additional period, Lamine Camara lunged in on Tielemans inside the area. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded. Tielemans stepped up in the 125th minute and slotted into the top-right corner. It was the latest goal ever scored in World Cup history. Belgium had come from two goals down to win a World Cup knockout match — something they had done only once before, against Japan in 2018. No other team has done it twice.
“Being part of this comeback is a proud moment,” Tielemans said afterwards. “I scored the last two goals to give the team the win today. I’m very proud of that.” For Senegal, who had done everything right for 85 minutes, there were no words adequate to the occasion. It is a cruel loss and one of the most heartbreaking exits in recent World Cup history.
Belgium next face the USA in Seattle on Monday in what promises to be one of the ties of the Round of 16.
USA dig deep as Balogun scores, then sees red
The USMNT’s night in Santa Clara encapsulated everything about this team in one breathless evening — thrilling, chaotic, resilient, and ultimately triumphant.
Folarin Balogun had one goal disallowed for offside, rattled the crossbar in stoppage time, and then, just before the break, slid a composed left-footed finish past Nikola Vasilj after Tim Ream intercepted a Bosnia goal kick and Tillman played him in. His third goal of the tournament. His version of LeBron’s Silencer celebration. King James himself responded approvingly online.
Then, in the 64th minute, the night turned. Balogun caught Tarik Muharemović’s foot in an aerial challenge. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus reviewed the incident and produced a red card for violent conduct. Pochettino was furious. “For me, never is it a red card,” he said. “Never was there intention to step on the player.” Balogun will miss the Belgium match through suspension.
For 36 minutes the USA defended with ten men, Christian Pulisic even having a goal disallowed for offside in the 79th minute — a moment of profound injustice given the circumstances. And then Malik Tillman stood over a free kick just outside the area in the 82nd minute, changed his right boot, and floated a stunning effort off Vasilj’s hand and into the net. The stadium erupted. The USA would hold out.
It was only the second World Cup knockout win in American football history, and their first against a European nation since 2002. The players sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in the dressing room afterwards. Pochettino, the first USA coach to record three World Cup victories, called it “something bigger” than football.
Edin Džeko, the 40-year-old Bosnian captain — who we wrote about earlier in this tournament — limped off in the second half with an apparent leg injury, ending his final World Cup in the cruellest fashion. Bosnia head home having given considerably more than expected, and their tournament exit carries a dignified sadness all of its own.
The USA vs Belgium in Seattle on Monday is the standout Round of 16 fixture. One team will be without its leading scorer. The other scored the latest goal in World Cup history 24 hours earlier. It should be quite the evening.
Day 21 Results: England 2-1 DR Congo | Belgium 3-2 Senegal (AET) | USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Read more – World Cup Day 20: Haaland nicks it late, France march on, Mexico make history
Also see – From the Bench to the Spotlight: Gessime Yassine’s Key Role in Morocco’s Triumph
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