Introduction

You open your phone, and every feed screams one thing today. FIFA World Cup 2026 expected lineups today are the hottest search on the planet right now, and honestly, that makes sense. The tournament has reached the knockout rounds, and every team news update now carries real weight. One injury, one tactical tweak, and a whole match can flip.

I get why you are here. You want the real picture, not guesswork. This article breaks down today’s biggest fixtures, walks you through the predicted lineups, and gives you the context you need before kickoff. You will get team news, head to head records, key players to watch, current form, a match prediction, and useful stats.

By the end, you will know exactly what to expect when the referee blows the first whistle. Let us get into it.

Match Overview: What Is Happening Today

Wednesday, July 1, marks a huge day in the Round of 32 stage. Three cohosts and contenders take center stage, and each game carries knockout stakes. Lose today, and you go home. Win, and you march closer to the final.

Here is a quick snapshot of today’s headline matches:

• England vs Congo DR, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, kickoff at noon ET
• USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, kickoff at 8 p.m. ET
• Belgium vs Senegal, Lumen Field, Seattle, kickoff at 4 p.m. ET

This piece focuses mainly on the two matches drawing the most search traffic right now, England against Congo DR and USA against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both carry massive storylines, and both give you a clear look at how coaches are approaching the knockout rounds.

Team Lineups: England vs Congo DR

Thomas Tuchel walks into this game with a real headache at right back. Reece James is out with a hamstring issue, and his replacement, Jarell Quansah, limped off against Panama with an ankle injury. That leaves Djed Spence as the most likely starter in that slot, even though he naturally plays on the left.

Predicted England lineup, four two three one setup:

• Jordan Pickford in goal
• Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly across the back four
• Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice holding the midfield
• Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford supporting from behind
• Harry Kane leading the line

Rice returns after a rest against Panama, and Bellingham keeps his spot after a Man of the Match display. Kane remains England’s all time top World Cup scorer and the obvious focal point up front.

Congo DR, playing their first ever World Cup knockout match, are expected to switch back to a five man defense after using a flatter back four against Uzbekistan.

Predicted Congo DR lineup, five three two setup:

• Timothy Mpasi Nzau in goal
• Wan Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Steve Kapuadi, and Masuaku across the back five
• Moutoussamy, Sadiki, and Kayembe in midfield
• Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu up top

Yoane Wissa has been the story of their tournament. He has scored three of Congo DR’s four goals here, which is more than he managed in the entire Premier League season for Newcastle.
Team Lineups: USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mauricio Pochettino gets his strongest group back for the knockout opener. Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, and Chris Richards all return after being rested or nursed through the group stage.

Predicted USA lineup, four two three one setup:

• Matt Freese in goal
• Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson across the back
• Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman screening the midfield
• Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, and Christian Pulisic supporting
• Folarin Balogun leading the attack

Pulisic has played limited minutes so far due to a calf issue, but he told reporters this week that he feels good, and every recent report expects him to start.

Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout rounds for the first time in twelve years, and they lean on experience up front.

Predicted Bosnia lineup, four four two setup:

• Vasilj in goal
• Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, and Kolasinac in the back line
• Bajraktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, and Alajbegovic across midfield
• Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demirovic up top

Dzeko, now forty years old, still carries the scoring burden alongside the breakout teenager Kerim Alajbegovic.Source,.aljazeera

Head to Head Record

You want context before you predict a winner, and history gives you plenty here.

England vs Congo DR: This is the first ever meeting between these two nations at any level, so there is zero head to head history to lean on. That makes today’s match a genuine unknown, though England’s overall record against African teams at World Cups favors them heavily. They have won five of nine such meetings and kept seven clean sheets.

USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: The two sides have met three times before, all in friendlies between 2013 and 2021. The USA won twice and drew once, so they remain unbeaten in this fixture. However, none of those games carried World Cup pressure, so today’s meeting writes a new chapter regardless of the past results.

Key Players to Watch

Every match has a handful of players who can decide the outcome. Here are the names you should track closely today.

• Harry Kane (England): England’s record World Cup scorer with eleven goals. A goal today puts him level with Geoff Hurst for knockout goals in the competition.
• Yoane Wissa (Congo DR): He has scored 75 percent of his country’s goals at this World Cup and looks like their only realistic route to an upset.
• Christian Pulisic (USA): The creative spark the hosts need. He set up two goals against Paraguay and looks sharper with every appearance.
• Edin Dzeko (Bosnia): Still goalless this tournament, but he has 73 international goals in total, and big moments tend to find him.
• Jude Bellingham (England): He continues to prove he is undroppable, and his partnership with Kane has produced goals in every England win so far.
  
  
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Recent Form

Form tells you a lot about confidence heading into a knockout game.

England finished top of Group L, but their form has cooled. They beat Croatia 4-2, drew 0-0 with Ghana, and edged Panama 2-0 in a laboured display. Tuchel remains unbeaten in eleven competitive games as manager, but the performances have not always matched the results.

Congo DR fell behind early against Uzbekistan before Wissa scored twice to secure a 3-1 comeback win. That result sent them into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

The USA opened with a strong 4-1 win over Paraguay, followed it with a solid 2-0 win over Australia, then lost 3-2 to Turkiye in a rotated lineup during a game that had no bearing on qualification. They still topped Group D with six points.

Bosnia and Herzegovina drew Canada, lost to Switzerland, then beat Qatar 3-1 to sneak through as one of the best third placed teams. They have never kept a clean sheet in six World Cup matches, and that trend worries their coaching staff heading into today.

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Match Prediction

England should have enough firepower to break down a well organized Congo DR defense. Opta’s own model gives England a strong edge, and Kane, Bellingham, and Saka provide more than enough quality to find a way through. Expect a tight first half followed by England pulling clear. A one or two goal win looks likely, though Congo DR should not be written off completely given Wissa’s scoring touch.

The USA carry home advantage, a deeper squad, and clear momentum into their game. Bosnia have leaked goals all tournament and have never managed a clean sheet at a World Cup. Expect the USA to score first, control the middle third, and close out a comfortable win, though Bosnia’s height and set piece threat could produce a consolation goal along the way.

Statistics That Matter

Numbers rarely lie, and these stats shape both games.

• England ranked third for possession average in the group stage at 65.3 percent, while Congo DR ranked 38th at 38.5 percent.
• Elliot Anderson leads all England players for line breaking passes, possession won, and duels won at this World Cup.
• Congo DR winger Brian Cipenga completed six dribbles against Uzbekistan, the second best single match total in the group stage.
• The USA scored more goals in the group stage than all but two other teams in the tournament.
• Bosnia have conceded in all six of their World Cup matches, a record no other nation shares.
• The USA are priced at heavy favorites to advance, while Bosnia sit as clear underdogs on most sportsbooks.

Final Verdict

Today’s Round of 32 fixtures reward the bigger, more balanced squads, and both England and the USA look set to advance. England’s attacking talent should eventually break Congo DR’s resistance, even if the Leopards make them work for it through Wissa’s threat on the counter. The USA, backed by a home crowd and a fully available squad, should handle Bosnia comfortably despite the Balkan side’s set piece danger.

Keep an eye on official team news roughly an hour before kickoff, since injuries and late fitness tests can still shuffle these lineups. What is your prediction for today’s matches? Drop your score predictions and share this article with a fellow fan before kickoff.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What time does England vs Congo DR kick off today? The match kicks off at noon ET, which is 5 p.m. in the UK, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Will Christian Pulisic start for the USA today? Most reports expect Pulisic to start after recovering from a calf injury. He played over half an hour against Turkiye and said this week that he feels good.

Who is Congo DR’s most dangerous player? Yoane Wissa leads their attack and has scored three of the team’s four World Cup goals so far.

What formation will England use against Congo DR? England are expected to line up in a four two three one setup, with Declan Rice back in midfield alongside Elliot Anderson.

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina a real threat to the USA? Bosnia have talent up front through Edin Dzeko and Kerim Alajbegovic, but their defense has struggled all tournament, which favors the host nation.

Who wins if the match ends in a draw after ninety minutes? Knockout matches move to two fifteen minute periods of extra time, followed by penalties if the score remains level.

Where can I watch these World Cup 2026 matches? England vs Congo DR airs on BBC One in the UK and Fox in the USA. USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina airs on Fox and Telemundo in the United States.

What happens to the winner of England vs Congo DR? The winner advances to face either Mexico or Ecuador in the Round of 16.

Category: Football News

Tags: FIFA World Cup 2026, World Cup Lineups, England Football, USMNT, Congo DR National Team, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Round of 32, Football Predictions

About the Author

Maria Fernandez covers international football for a decade, focusing on tournament tactics, team news, and matchday analysis. She has covered three World Cups and enjoys breaking down lineups so fans get clarity before kickoff, not just guesswork.

Image Descriptions

1. Featured Image: A wide stadium shot at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, packed with fans in England and Congo DR colors, taken shortly before kickoff.
2. Image 2: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham warming up together on the pitch, both wearing England training kits, with the crowd visible in the background.
3. Image 3: Christian Pulisic controlling the ball during a USA training session, with teammates jogging in the background at their World Cup base camp.
4. Image 4: A tactical formation graphic showing England’s predicted four two three one setup against Congo DR’s five three two shape.