It was a day of records and drama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as England, Belgium, and the USA all booked their spots in the Round of 16. The headlines belonged to Harry Kane, who etched his name in English football history by becoming just the fourth England player to score more than one goal in a single World Cup knockout game. He’s the first to do it since Gary Lineker’s famous brace against Cameroon in the 1990 quarterfinals.
Kane’s performance wasn’t just about the numbers, though the numbers themselves are staggering. With four headed goals across World Cups, Kane now stands behind only Miroslav Klose (7) and Gerd Müller (5) for most headed goals in World Cup history since 1966. England’s unbeaten run against African opposition also continues, stretching to 10 games without a loss—six wins and four draws.
Belgium’s Last-Gasp Heroics and VAR Controversy
Elsewhere, Belgium’s clash with Senegal ended in controversy and history. Youri Tielemans scored at 120’+5, the latest match-winner ever recorded at a World Cup. The goal, coming deep into extra time after a VAR-reviewed penalty decision, sparked fierce debate over whether Belgium truly deserved the decisive spot-kick. But the result stands: Belgium celebrated wildly, and Senegal was left heartbroken.
Substitutes and Statistics: A Tournament of Firsts
The tournament’s drama hasn’t been limited to starters. This year, there have already been 46 goals scored by substitutes—matching the combined total of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments (30 and 16, respectively). Amad became just the third African player to notch two goals as a substitute in a single World Cup, joining legends Roger Milla and Pape Gueye.
France, meanwhile, continued their scoring blitz, notching at least three goals in each of their last five World Cup matches—a feat never before seen in the competition’s long history. On the individual scoring front, Erling Haaland sits just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, with Haaland bagging five goals this tournament and extending his run to 25 goals in his last 13 internationals for Norway.
With high drama, late heroics, and records tumbling, the 2026 World Cup is living up to the hype. Fans can expect more fireworks as the knockout stages heat up across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
