The World Cup Round of 32 — the first knockout stage, where the field narrows from 32 nations to 16 — delivers three marquee fixtures on Saturday, with England, Belgium and the United States each looking to avoid extra time. The opening day of the round produced no upsets, as France, Norway and Mexico all advanced, setting a clear standard for the favorites to follow. Now attention turns to three contests that carry sharply different levels of suspense.
England vs. Congo DR: The Lopsided Fixture That Still Has a Wrinkle
England enters as a -1200 favorite to win in regulation against Congo DR, making this the most decisive mismatch on the day's schedule. England finished the group stage with two wins and one draw, while Congo DR went one win, one loss and one draw — though the African side showed defensive discipline, holding Portugal and Colombia to a single goal apiece across those matches and conceding no more than one goal in any group-stage game. That defensive record makes the under 2.5 total goals worth noting. England's quality should be enough to advance, but Congo DR's structure at the back could keep the margin tighter than the moneyline implies.
Separately, Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas attracted attention this week after expressing discomfort at the prospect of England potentially winning the World Cup on what would coincide with America's 250th birthday celebrations.
Belgium vs. Senegal: The Day's Most Competitive Matchup
Belgium drew Egypt and Iran before defeating New Zealand in the group stage, while Senegal dropped its first two games to France and Norway before dismantling Iraq 5-0 to advance. By most measures, Senegal drew the harder group, and the moneyline reflects the closeness of this contest more than the England fixture does. Belgium should carry the attacking initiative, but Senegal's ability to generate turnovers and transition quickly gives them a credible path to scoring. The 90-minute draw is priced at +230, reflecting a genuine possibility this one goes to extra time.
USA vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina: Defensive Questions for Both Sides
The United States went 2-1 in group play, with the loss to Turkey arriving after qualification was already secured and carrying some controversy. Bosnia-Herzegovina's group stage was uneven — a draw with Canada, a heavy loss to Switzerland, then a 3-1 victory over Qatar. Both teams allowed goals consistently in the group stage; the United States conceded in two of three matches, and Bosnia-Herzegovina's results suggest a similar vulnerability. That shared defensive exposure makes both teams to score a reasonable expectation heading into this fixture, priced at -115.
The three-game slate represents the clearest test yet of whether the tournament's middle tier can match the standard set by France's dominant opening-day display.