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Senegal Ready to Face Belgium in ‘New Competition’ After Difficult Group Stage

Pape ‌Bouna Thiaw, manager of Senegal, attends a press conference after the training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images/AFP)
Pape ‌Bouna Thiaw, manager of Senegal, attends a press conference after the training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Senegal Ready to Face Belgium in ‘New Competition’ After Difficult Group Stage

Pape ‌Bouna Thiaw, manager of Senegal, attends a press conference after the training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images/AFP)
Pape ‌Bouna Thiaw, manager of Senegal, attends a press conference after the training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images/AFP)

Senegal coach Pape ‌Bouna Thiaw said his side can put their World Cup group-stage troubles behind them when they take on Belgium in the round of 32 on Wednesday, telling reporters that the knockout phase represents an entirely new competition.

Senegal lost their first two games, conceding six goals against France and Norway before a 5-0 thrashing of Iraq helped them squeak through as the eighth-best third-placed team, just above Iran on goal difference.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, though, was clear about the threat Senegal posed, describing them earlier on Tuesday as ‌the best third-placed ‌squad to qualify.

Thiaw accepted Senegal had not ‌started ⁠the tournament well ⁠against strong opposition, but said his players would not be fazed going into the clash with Belgium.

"We needed to win the game against Iraq and now we are qualified," he said. "It's a new competition that's going to start and we are determined to win this game.

"It's a different competition starting tomorrow and it's not because ⁠you finish top of your group that you ‌are not going to be knocked ‌out," Thiaw added, citing the Netherlands' defeat by Morocco on penalties ‌on Monday.

Senegal had chances to take the lead against France before ‌they were eventually blown away in a 3-1 defeat and it was ultimately mistakes that cost them in their 3-2 loss to Norway.

Thiaw, though, chalked up the results to isolated problems rather than anything deeper ‌and said his side had worked on them before the Belgium game.

"The goals that we did ⁠concede, it ⁠was linked to a lot of individual errors ... when you come up against France and Norway, you cannot afford to be making those mistakes," he said.

Senegal will be without first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was injured in the loss to Norway and had temporarily returned to his Saudi club Al-Ahli. He was replaced by Mory Diaw for the Iraq game.

"Edouard Mendy (went) back to his club ... he's going to get back with us tonight," Thiaw said. "He will be with us tomorrow, even if he won't be fit to play.

"We are happy to see him and we hope that he can be with us for the rest of the competition."

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England Face DR Congo Hurdle, US Prepare for World Cup Moment in Spotlight

England head coach Thomas Tuchel watches training for the World Cup football tournament Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP)
England head coach Thomas Tuchel watches training for the World Cup football tournament Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP)
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England Face DR Congo Hurdle, US Prepare for World Cup Moment in Spotlight

England head coach Thomas Tuchel watches training for the World Cup football tournament Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP)
England head coach Thomas Tuchel watches training for the World Cup football tournament Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP)

England take on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the World Cup on Wednesday looking for a place in the last 16 while co-hosts the USA prepare for the biggest match in their football history.

Two European powerhouses have already been ejected from the tournament after Germany and the Netherlands were beaten on penalties in the last 32 by Paraguay and Morocco respectively -- and England don't want to be next.

The Three Lions are aiming to end a 60-year wait to collect a major trophy, but their coach Thomas Tuchel warned his players that they are facing a team in Atlanta with nothing to lose.

"I feel it is a privilege to be in these situations. I think we can just accept it, we are the favorites (against DR Congo)," Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday.

The German cautioned though that "the games so far in round of 32 speak a very clear language. It's narrow, narrow margins."

England will rely on their world-class duo of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane although influential defender Reece James misses the game through injury.

DR Congo have scoured the footballing world for players with links to the vast African nation.

Of the 26-man squad, 20 were born outside of Congo -- the majority in France, including forward Yoane Wissa, who is well-known to his English opponents from the Premier League.

Defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was born in London and played for England to under-21 level and Axel Tuanzebe also represented England youth teams.

DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre stressed that the onus would be on England, not his side who many pundits did not expect to emerge from their group.

"Our World Cup is already a success relative to our goals," the Frenchman said on Tuesday. "The pressure is on the England team."

- 30 million viewers -

In a crowded field of sports, football has made great strides in America in recent years, but the USA players know that Wednesday's clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina will be the biggest moment so far in that progression.

Up to 30 million Americans are expected to tune in for the primetime game in the San Francisco Bay Area, as Christian Pulisic and his teammates try to achieve the nation's first knockout win in almost a quarter century.

"Everyone knows in the back of our minds what this could do for this country," said US midfielder Gio Reyna.

"We feel the country rallying around us. We see the momentum it's bringing to the sport in this country, just through the group stage. But we also understand if we make a nice run in this tournament, what it could really do for the sport."

The light is dimming for Belgium's golden generation including Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku and Senegal will provide a severe test of those ageing legs in Seattle.

On Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe and France laid on a sumptuous display of attacking as they eased past Sweden 3-0, with the Real Madrid forward collecting two goals to take his tally in the tournament to six.

Mbappe and his teammates ran to embrace Didier Deschamps after one of his goals, comforting their coach after the death of his mother this month.

"I think that reflects the spirit of this group -- it's part of our DNA. We are all together," Mbappe told broadcaster beIN Sports.

"We know the coach has been through a difficult experience; unfortunately, everyone goes through that at some point and it's very hard."

Erling Haaland poked home the goal that carried Norway into the last 16 for the first time as they beat the Ivory Coast 2-1.

Sports

‘The King Is Back’ - Egypt’s Salah Resumes Training After Hamstring Scare

Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) smiles before the World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) smiles before the World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
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‘The King Is Back’ - Egypt’s Salah Resumes Training After Hamstring Scare

Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) smiles before the World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) smiles before the World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)

Egypt ‌captain Mohamed Salah resumed training on Tuesday, participating in part of the team's session as he continues his recovery from a hamstring strain and boosting hopes he will be fit for Friday's World Cup last-32 clash ‌against Australia.

Salah ‌was substituted during ‌Egypt's ⁠1-1 draw with ⁠Iran in their final group match, casting doubt over his availability for the knockout tie in Dallas.

Photos posted on the Egyptian ⁠Football Association's Facebook page ‌showed a ‌smiling Salah back on the ‌training pitch in Spokane, where ‌Egypt have been preparing for the Australia match.

The team accompanied the images with the ‌caption: "The King is back".

Salah's return was a timely ⁠boost ⁠for Egypt, who progressed to the knockout stages for the first time after finishing second in their group with five points, behind leaders Belgium on goal difference.

The 34-year-old has been instrumental in Egypt's campaign, scoring once and providing two assists.

Sports

Majestic Olise Raises France to Another Level at World Cup

Michael Olise of France in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match France against Sweden, in New Jersey, US, 30 June 2026. (EPA)
Michael Olise of France in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match France against Sweden, in New Jersey, US, 30 June 2026. (EPA)
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Majestic Olise Raises France to Another Level at World Cup

Michael Olise of France in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match France against Sweden, in New Jersey, US, 30 June 2026. (EPA)
Michael Olise of France in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match France against Sweden, in New Jersey, US, 30 June 2026. (EPA)

That France are more than living up to their status as favorites at this World Cup may be down to the goals of captain Kylian Mbappe, but also in a large part to the creative genius of Michael Olise.

There is a sense that, after years of prioritizing pragmatism over flair, coach Didier Deschamps has decided to hand the keys to his brilliant attacking players as he aims to end his long reign with another World Cup triumph.

That may yet change when it comes to the latter stages and the quality of the opposition increases, but France have been irresistible so far with Olise helping raise them to another level.

Les Bleus were at their thrilling best in a 3-0 win over Sweden in New Jersey on Tuesday that made it four wins, and 13 goals scored, so far at the tournament as they eased through to a last-16 tie against Paraguay.

Olise has not scored any of those goals, with Mbappe netting two at the MetLife Stadium to move to six in total, and Bradley Barcola getting the other on the day.

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele has four and Desire Doue one, but Olise's display against Sweden was majestic, as he set up two goals to become this World Cup's leading assist provider.

The Bayern Munich player did almost break his tournament duck with the game still goalless, but his breathtaking overhead bicycle kick came back off a post -- even Mbappe was in awe at the execution.

"It was a fantastic bit of skill. Unfortunately it didn't go in, but people come to the stadium to see that kind of thing," Mbappe said.

The exciting version of France that has emerged at the end of Deschamps' 14-year tenure can be traced back to a Nations League quarter-final against Croatia in March last year.

After losing 2-0 away in the first leg, Deschamps decided to remove one of his three defensive midfielders, and add another forward.

Olise, who had made his senior international debut six months earlier off the back of an impressive Olympics, was brought in for the second leg to play in the number 10 role, behind Mbappe.

He scored a superb free-kick, sparking a comeback as France went on to win the tie on penalties.

- 'Future Ballon d'Or' -

Now 24, he gradually established himself in the starting line-up, just as he was starring for Bayern.

The season just finished saw him score 22 goals in all competitions as Bayern won a domestic double and lost in the Champions League semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain.

In his last game before the World Cup, he scored a hat-trick in France's 3-1 friendly win against Northern Ireland.

"Michael has been putting together really top-class performances off the back of a very good season. He needed a bit of time get his bearings with us but he is a major influence," said Deschamps.

"When he touches the ball, things happen."

Deschamps knows how important Olise is on the pitch, despite being one of the least outspoken members of the squad off it -- born in London to a Nigerian father and a Franco-Algerian mother, his grasp of French is not perfect.

"Michael is a bit of an introvert. The important thing is that he is not introverted on the pitch," added Deschamps.

Not necessarily mastering the language has not mattered for a player who rarely gives interviews.

"Let's just say I prefer to talk with my feet," he told French sports daily L'Equipe recently.

The former Chelsea academy player initially emerged at Reading before joining Crystal Palace in 2021.

He made his name in the Premier League while in South London, where he got his debut under Patrick Vieira -- a World Cup winner with France in 1998.

"You could see the type of player he was, his ability," said Sweden coach Graham Potter, who came up against Olise while managing in England.

"I think players' journeys sometimes, they're not quite straight lines. Whereas with him, you could see that he was just ready to go."

Vieira described him to L'Equipe as "a future Ballon d'Or winner" -- maybe even this year if he keeps playing like this at the World Cup.