By Senior Soccer Betting Analyst

World Cup 2026 July 1 Recap — The Latest Goal in World Cup History, a Record Broken, and a Red Card That Changes the R16

Updated July 2026
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Three Round of 32 ties on July 1, and all three delivered a headline worth re-reading. Belgium completed the greatest comeback in World Cup knockout history — trailing 2–0 after the 85th minute and winning 3–2 in extra time via a 120+5′ penalty that became the latest goal ever scored at a men’s World Cup. Harry Kane headed a brace past DR Congo to take his career tally to 13 World Cup goals, one clear of Pelé. And the USA beat Bosnia 2–0 but lost Folarin Balogun to a red card — meaning the USMNT will face Belgium in the Round of 16 without their starting striker. Here is the practitioner’s walkthrough: confirmed results, what changed on the board, and what you should do before the next kickoff.

A Canadian bettor reviewing the rebuilt Round of 32 bracket after three dramatic results on July 1
Three ties, three storylines — the practitioner’s job is to separate the signal from the noise.
R32 ties played 3 (July 1, 2026)
Advanced England, Belgium (a.e.t.), USA
Eliminated DR Congo, Senegal, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Belgium’s comeback from 2–0 down after the 85th minute is the latest any side has ever trailed by two goals and still avoided elimination at a World Cup. Tielemans’ penalty at 120+5′ (124:44 match clock) is the latest goal in men’s World Cup history. Kane’s 13 goals move him past Pelé into sole possession of sixth on the all-time list. Balogun’s red card strips USA of their starting striker for the R16 — a structural shift, not just a headline.

TL;DR — What you need to know in 30 seconds

  • England 2–1 DR Congo — Cipenga 7′ (DRC); Kane 75′, 86′ (ENG). Kane now has 13 World Cup goals, one clear of Pelé (12). England advance to face Mexico on July 5.
  • Belgium 3–2 Senegal (a.e.t.) — Diarra 25′, Sarr 51′ (SEN); Lukaku 86′, Tielemans 89′, 120+5′ pen (BEL). Tielemans’ penalty at 124:44 is the latest goal in men’s World Cup history, awarded after the tournament’s longest VAR review. Belgium advance to face USA on July 6.
  • USA 2–0 Bosnia & Herzegovina — Balogun 45′, Tillman 81′ (USA). Balogun sent off 64′ (post-VAR), USA finished with 10 men. Balogun is automatically banned for the R16 vs Belgium on July 6.
  • R16 pairings confirmed: England vs Mexico (5 Jul), USA vs Belgium (6 Jul).

Results, scorers and minutes confirmed via Sky Sports, ESPN, FIFA, CBS, and SI match reports (July 1, 2026).

The results, in one table

Match Result Scorers (min) Advanced
England vs DR Congo 2–1 Cipenga 7′; Kane 75′, 86′ England
Belgium vs Senegal 3–2 (a.e.t.) Diarra 25′, Sarr 51′; Lukaku 86′, Tielemans 89′, 120+5′ (pen) Belgium
USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina 2–0 Balogun 45′, Tillman 81′ USA

What actually changed for bettors

1. England’s outright shortened after the Kane brace. England entered the day at 8.00–9.50 decimal across books. Kane scoring twice in 11 minutes to erase a 0–1 deficit confirms he remains the tournament’s decisive finisher — and his 13 career World Cup goals (passing Pelé’s 12) is the kind of historical marker that attracts public money to an outright ticket. England face Mexico in the R16 on July 5.

2. Belgium’s survival adds a volatile price back to the board. Belgium were 36.00 decimal pre-match (as of July 2 AM ET). A side at 36.00 that just staged the most dramatic comeback in World Cup knockout history will attract volatility traders — but the 120 minutes of fatigue and the controversy around the penalty (pundits disputed it; see Quotes) mean the price may not shorten as much as the headline suggests.

3. USA lost more than a match’s worth of momentum. Balogun scored the opener, then got sent off 19 minutes later (64′ red card, post-VAR review). Pochettino called it harsh — "for me, never is it a red card" — but the automatic suspension is final. USA face Belgium on July 6 without their starting striker. USA are 26.00 outright (as of July 2 AM ET).

4. The R16 bracket filled two more slots. England vs Mexico (July 5) and USA vs Belgium (July 6) are now fixed. For Canadian bettors watching the Canada vs Morocco R16 tie on July 4, the bracket half opposite Canada is taking shape.

England — outright winner, current range 8.00–9.50 decimal (+700/+850 American) as of July 2 AM ET. FOX quotes 8.00; FanDuel quotes 9.50. The book split is ~19% — wider than usual for a top-eight side. Shop the line before committing. Kane’s 13 goals and the R16 draw (Mexico) are both factored in — the question is whether England’s second-half-comeback pattern (75′, 86′ vs DRC) is reliable or just dramatic.

The Belgium comeback — a timeline

This sequence matters because the penalty decision (and the VAR review length) are still being debated, and the market has not fully resolved whether Belgium’s win was structural or chaotic.

Clock Event
25′ Diarra gives Senegal the lead
51′ Sarr doubles it — Senegal 2–0
85′ Belgium still trail 0–2; comeback from this position has never succeeded at a WC knockout
86′ Lukaku pulls one back — 1–2
89′ Tielemans equalises — 2–2 in normal time
120+5′ (124:44) Tielemans converts the penalty — 3–2; latest goal in men’s World Cup history

The penalty was awarded after the tournament’s longest VAR review. Multiple pundits questioned the call.

Quotes from July 1

"I genuinely don’t believe that’s a penalty." — Gary Neville, pundit (Sky Sports, July 1, 2026)

"It’s very, very harsh." — Roy Keane, pundit (Sky Sports, July 1, 2026)

"You want conviction in the referee’s decision, and he was certainly hesitating a long time." — Roy Keane, pundit (Sky Sports, July 1, 2026)

"For me, never is it a red card." — Mauricio Pochettino, USA head coach (ESPN, July 1, 2026)

"Never was there intention to step on the player." — Mauricio Pochettino, USA head coach (ESPN, July 1, 2026)

Balogun’s red card is confirmed and the automatic one-match ban applies. He will NOT be available for USA vs Belgium on July 6. This is not a doubtful — it is a suspension.

Your next steps before the next R32 kickoff

  • [ ] Note England at 8.00–9.50 — the book split is unusually wide; shop both before committing
  • [ ] Belgium at 36.00 looks cheap after the headline, but 120 minutes of fatigue + a disputed penalty = caution
  • [ ] USA vs Belgium (July 6) — build your model without Balogun in the USA XI
  • [ ] Canada vs Morocco (July 4) — the local R16 tie is two days away; start comparing 1X2 lines now
  • [ ] Cross-check all outright lines at two Canadian books — decimal prices diverge significantly

Where to read next

Canadian-facing books such as RichRoyal, ZotaBet and BillyBets carry the markets named above in decimal and C$. Stake only what you set aside, and shop the line first.

What is the latest goal ever scored at a World Cup?
Youri Tielemans’ penalty at 120+5′ (124:44 on the match clock) in Belgium vs Senegal on July 1, 2026. Belgium trailed 2–0 after the 85th minute and won 3–2 after extra time. Confirmed via Sky Sports, FIFA, and Opta Analyst match reports.
How many World Cup goals does Harry Kane have now?
13 — one clear of Pelé (12) on the all-time list. Kane scored twice (75′, 86′) against DR Congo on July 1 to overtake the Brazilian legend. Confirmed via ESPN and Olympics.com.
Is Balogun definitely out of USA vs Belgium?
Yes. The red card in the 64th minute against Bosnia carries an automatic one-match suspension. Pochettino called the decision harsh, but the ban is final. USA face Belgium in the R16 on July 6 without their starting striker. Confirmed via ESPN and SI.
Which R16 ties are now confirmed?
As of July 2: Canada vs Morocco (4 Jul), Paraguay vs France (4 Jul), Brazil vs Norway (5 Jul), Mexico vs England (5 Jul), USA vs Belgium (6 Jul). Three more R16 pairings depend on the remaining R32 ties (July 2–3).

Odds are decimal and were accurate as of the times stated (outright as of July 2, 2026 AM ET; where books price the same market differently, ranges are shown). Lines move; confirm at your sportsbook before betting. 19+ (18+ in AB/QC/MB). Bet responsibly — ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600.