World Cup: England vs. DR Congo, Belgium vs. Senegal and USA vs. Bosnia, the schedule for the round of 16 this Wednesday

The World Cup round of 16 continues this Wednesday with three matches scheduled. England faces DR Congo at 18:00 PM, Belgium takes on Senegal at 22:00 PM, and then the United States takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early hours of Thursday morning.

England arrives in charge, but not without questions

England enters their Round of 16 tie against DR Congo as group winners. The Three Lions topped Group L with seven points, ahead of Croatia and Ghana. Their campaign began with a spectacular 4-2 victory against Croatia, followed by a much tighter 0-0 draw against Ghana, and then a controlled 2-0 win against Panama. On paper, their record is solid: unbeaten, top of their group, six goals scored and only two conceded. But the draw against Ghana highlighted England's struggles against deep-lying defenses, while the victory against Panama took time to materialize. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane broke the deadlock in the second half, but England didn't always look like a steamroller. They therefore arrive in a favorable position, but also with the obligation to increase the tempo, better capitalize on their periods of dominance, and avoid allowing a supposedly weaker opponent to settle into the game.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has already written a page, but does not want to stop there.

Facing them, DR Congo presents a completely different profile. The Congolese finished third in Group K, behind Colombia and Portugal, but their qualification carries significant weight. In their return to the World Cup after more than half a century's absence, they earned a point against Portugal, narrowly lost to Colombia 1-0, and then secured their place in the Round of 16 with a 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan. This run lends real significance to their presence. DR Congo earned their first point, scored their first goals, and won their first match in this World Cup. Their victory against Uzbekistan demonstrated above all their ability to react: conceding an early goal, the team turned the game around in the second half, led in particular by Yoane Wissa. This is therefore not a team that arrived here by chance, but a team that survived a tough group and enters this Round of 16 with far less pressure than England.

Belgium finished strong after a sluggish start

Belgium faces Senegal with a less straightforward path than England, but one that has steadily improved. The Red Devils topped Group G with five points, level on points with Egypt but ahead on goal difference. Their group stage began with two close matches: a draw against Egypt followed by a 0-0 draw against Iran, before a resounding 5-1 victory against New Zealand, which changed the dynamic of their first round. This final match proved crucial. Leandro Trossard scored twice, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku also found the net, and Belgium finished their group with a clear message. After two cautious, even laborious, opening outings, the Belgians found their clinical edge at the crucial moment. Their first-place finish also allowed them to remain in Seattle to prepare for this Round of 16 match, a significant logistical advantage in a World Cup played across such a vast country.

Senegal survived thanks to the strength of their goals.

Senegal arrives with a more chaotic, but no less interesting, journey. The Lions of Teranga finished third in Group I behind France and Norway. Their tournament got off to a bad start, with two defeats against top-level opponents: 3-1 against France, then 3-2 against Norway. At that point, their qualification was compromised, but not impossible. They needed a resounding victory against Iraq to remain in contention as one of the best third-placed teams. That's exactly what they did. Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0, a victory that revived their World Cup campaign and allowed them to secure a place in the knockout stage. This success also corrected the impression left by the first two matches: Senegal had conceded too many goals, but they showed they could be a formidable attacking force. Their qualification remains somewhat precarious in terms of the performance, but it reveals a dangerous team, capable of playing without inhibition against a favored Belgium.

Belgium-Senegal, a closer match than the standings suggest

On paper, Belgium arrives as the favorite: first in their group, undefeated, buoyed by a resounding victory in the final, and with key players delivering strong performances. But Senegal is no ordinary third-place finisher. They navigated a tough group with France and Norway, then qualified thanks to an attacking masterclass. Belgium's challenge will be to prove that the 5-1 win against New Zealand wasn't just a fluke, but the true start of their tournament. For Senegal, the objective is the opposite: to demonstrate that they've put the first-round defeats behind them, and that the 5-0 victory against Iraq has put the team back on track.

The United States won their group before falling

The United States enters their Round of 16 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina with the added pressure of being the host nation. Their group stage was generally successful: a 4-1 victory against Paraguay, a 2-0 win against Australia, followed by a 3-2 defeat against Turkey in their final match. Despite this setback, the Americans finished top of Group D with six points. The loss to Turkey therefore did not prevent their qualification. Coach Mauricio Pochettino had rotated his squad extensively, as first place was already secured.

Bosnia and Herzegovina held on until the very end

Bosnia and Herzegovina had a tougher road. In Group B, they finished third behind Switzerland and Canada, with four points. Their campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Canada, became more complicated with a heavy 4-1 defeat against Switzerland, and then got back on track with a 3-1 victory against Qatar on the final matchday. This win proved crucial in securing their place in the tournament as one of the best third-placed teams. Bosnia doesn't arrive with the same level of dominance as the United States, but they have already proven one thing: they know how to survive. After the thrashing they received against Switzerland, they needed to beat Qatar to extend their World Cup run. They did. This Round of 16 appearance is therefore a kind of bonus.