England meet DR Congo as World Cup knockouts begin

Three knockout matches, six national stories, and one long night for Indian football fans.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule runs from 9:30 pm IST to breakfast time. This is where group-stage comfort ends, and every loose pass starts feeling expensive.

At 9:30 pm IST, England meet DR Congo in Atlanta. Then Belgium face Senegal at 1:30 am IST in Seattle. At 5:30 am IST, USA take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay Area.

England face a new opponent

England and DR Congo have never played each other at senior level. That alone gives this match a lovely edge. There is no old rivalry, no stale script, and no easy memory bank.

England enter as favourites after topping Group L. They played 3 matches, won 2, drew 1, and stayed unbeaten. That is a clean enough record, though knockout football rarely respects neat numbers.

Harry Kane remains the obvious focal point. England will expect him to finish chances, drag defenders around, and calm the game when it gets jumpy.

The likely England shape also says plenty. Jordan Pickford should start in goal. Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham give the midfield balance. Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden bring the craft around Kane.

DR Congo arrive with a rougher ride behind them. They finished Group K with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 defeat. That is not dominant form, but it is enough to be dangerous.

Yoane Wissa is the player England cannot allow space. Cedric Bakambu gives DR Congo another forward outlet. If they survive the first half, this game could get awkward quickly.

Belgium meet Senegal’s threat

Belgium and Senegal also meet for the first time. That makes this round feel properly global, not just a repeat of old European scripts.

Belgium topped Group G with 1 win and 2 draws. They did not lose, but they did not blow teams away either. That matters because knockout matches punish slow starts.

Kevin De Bruyne remains Belgium’s weather system. When he controls the ball, Belgium look ordered. When opponents block his passing lanes, they can look short of ideas.

Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard give Belgium different routes to goal. Doku can stretch defenders. Lukaku can occupy centre-backs. Trossard can slip into small spaces.

Senegal reached this point from Group I with 1 win and 2 defeats. They got through on better goal difference, which tells you how fine the margins were.

Sadio Mane is still the emotional centre of this side. Senegal will need him to make the right choices at pace. One clean break could change the whole mood of the night.

USA carry home pressure

The USA have the clearest historical edge in their match. They have played Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 times, winning 2 and drawing 1.

This will still be their first World Cup meeting. That changes the temperature. A friendly record is useful for confidence, but it does not defend set pieces.

The USA reached the knockouts from Group D with 2 wins and 1 defeat. That is a stronger group-stage line than Bosnia’s 1 win, 1 draw and 1 defeat in Group B.

Christian Pulisic is the American player everyone will watch. He gives them direct running, finishing, and that rare habit of wanting the big moment.

The probable USA XI has Matt Turner behind a familiar defensive line. Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah should give the midfield energy. Tim Weah and Haji Wright can stretch Bosnia.

Bosnia will lean on Edin Dzeko’s experience. He does not need many touches to matter. For the USA, losing sight of him once could undo 20 minutes of good work.

Knockout football changes the tone

This 48-team World Cup has changed the rhythm of the tournament. More teams means more stories, more late bloomers, and more unusual matchups.

For Indian fans, that is both fun and exhausting. The England match sits neatly at night. The Belgium game asks for commitment. The USA match is for the truly stubborn.

These fixtures also show why the round of 32 matters. It gives teams like DR Congo and Bosnia a bigger stage. It gives favourites no room to hide behind reputation.

Two of the night’s 3 games are first-time meetings. That feels fresh. It also means coaches must trust preparation more than past experience.

The stars will draw the attention, of course. Kane, De Bruyne, Mane, Pulisic and Dzeko all carry familiar weight. But knockout nights often turn on smaller details.

A full-back’s poor touch can decide a season’s worth of work. A goalkeeper’s save can become national memory. A tired midfielder can change a country’s sleep schedule.

That is why this night feels bigger than a fixture list. It is a test of nerve, depth and timing. For ordinary fans watching in India, it offers the oldest World Cup bargain: lose some sleep now, and maybe witness a story people keep talking about.