Two co-host nations, two knockout tests, two wins. The Round of 32 delivered its co-host storyline right on schedule at World Cup 2026 on July 1: England beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta, and the USA saw off Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara — a result made more notable by a red card for striker Folarin Balogun. Here is the WorldCupElite recap of both co-host results and what they mean for the bracket.

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July 1 Round of 32 Results at a Glance

  • England 2-1 DR Congo — Atlanta
  • USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina — Santa Clara, California

Two knockout tests, two co-host nations advancing on the same day. Let's break down both results.

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England 2-1 DR Congo: The Three Lions Get the Job Done in Atlanta

England's Round of 32 tie against DR Congo in Atlanta went the way of the pre-tournament favourites, but not without a fight. The Three Lions came through 2-1, with Jude Bellingham once again the side's central attacking presence as England booked their place in the Round of 16.

DR Congo pushed England throughout and got a goal of their own, but it wasn't enough to stop Gareth Southgate's successors advancing. England's reward is a Round of 16 meeting with co-host Mexico at the Estadio Azteca — one of the most hostile atmospheres in world football.

What It Means

England move on to face Mexico in the Round of 16 on July 5. DR Congo's run through the Round of 32 ends, but reaching the knockout stage at all is a landmark result for the nation.

  • England key player: Jude Bellingham — the talisman driving England's knockout run.

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USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina: Co-Hosts Advance Despite Red Card Scare

In Santa Clara, the USA delivered exactly the kind of co-host statement result World Cup organisers hoped for: a composed 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina to reach the Round of 16 on home soil. The result came with a twist — striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card during the match, forcing the USA to see out a spell of the game with ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the USA held firm and progressed comfortably, a result that will boost belief among the home crowd as the co-hosts push for a first men's quarter-final since 2002.

What It Means

The USA advance to face Belgium in the Round of 16 in Seattle on July 6. Bosnia & Herzegovina's tournament ends at the Round of 32, but the red card and how the USA managed the game are the two storylines that follow the co-hosts into the next round — will Balogun be available, and can the USA repeat that discipline against a Belgium side that has already shown it can fight back from two goals down?

  • USA key player: Christian Pulisic — the captain leading a co-host side through its biggest test yet.

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The Bigger Picture: Both Co-Hosts Through

July 1 confirmed what World Cup organisers hoped for: both England and the USA — two of the tournament's highest-profile draws — are through to the Round of 16. Elsewhere in the bracket, the Round of 32 continued to produce shocks and statement wins, and the picture heading into the knockout's second phase is sharper than ever.

WorldCupElite will track every knockout result and trending storyline as World Cup 2026 reaches its decisive phase. Check our live dashboard for day-by-day win-probability trends, and the fixtures hub for every Round of 32 result.

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What's Next

The Round of 32 rolled on the following day with two more heavyweight ties: Spain 3-0 Austria in Los Angeles, and a dramatic Portugal 2-1 Croatia in Toronto, settled by a Gonçalo Ramos stoppage-time winner. The path to the Round of 16 kept taking shape as the bracket moved toward its final knockout phase.

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