The Daily · Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Kane Breaks Pelé's Record as Mexico's Joy Turns to Tragedy
The day belonged to goals, history, and grief in equal measure. Harry Kane scored twice against DR Congo to give England a 2-1 win and, in doing so, moved past Pelé's all-time World Cup tally — 13 goals now, and sole ownership of a record that had stood for decades. It was the kind of landmark that arrives rarely, and it arrived on a day when England needed their captain most, having survived what could have been one of the tournament's great upsets in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel will know his side need to be sharper when they face Mexico at the Azteca.
Mexico's own story carried far more weight than any scoreline could contain. El Tri ended 40 years of knockout-stage failure by beating Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca, only for the celebrations to turn fatal. Three people died in crowd crushes near the Angel of Independence in Mexico City, where over a million fans had gathered. The joy of a historic result was inseparable from the tragedy that followed it.
Elsewhere, Paraguay produced the day's biggest upset by eliminating Germany in the round of 32, while Belgium survived a dramatic evening against Senegal — coming from two goals down to win 3-2 in extra time. Off the pitch, Alessandro Bastoni was placed under criminal investigation over serious allegations, and FIFA published findings showing a significant rise in racist abuse online during the tournament.
The record
Three Die in Mexico City Crowds After World Cup Win Over Ecuador
Three people died from suffocation during celebrations in Mexico City after Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in the World Cup round of 32. More than a million fans gathered near the Angel of Independence landmark, where the fatal crushes occurred. The deaths cast a shadow over Mexico's progression in the tournament and raise immediate questions about crowd safety at large-scale public celebrations.
Kane Surpasses Pelé's World Cup Tally as England Beat Congo DR 2-1
Harry Kane scored twice against Congo DR on Wednesday to give England a 2-1 victory and a place in the round of 16. The goals take Kane's World Cup tally to 13, moving him past Pelé's all-time total — a landmark moment for both player and tournament. Kane is now the outright holder of a record previously shared with one of the sport's all-time greats, and England advance to the knockout stage.
Mexico Beat Ecuador 2-0 for First World Cup KO Win in 40 Years
Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout stage victory, beating Ecuador 2-0 at Estadio Azteca. The result is a landmark moment for El Tri, who had repeatedly fallen at this hurdle across four decades of World Cup football. Mexico's long-standing knockout curse is broken — they advance in a home World Cup carrying the weight of 40 years of near-misses.
England Escape Shock Against DR Congo to Advance at World Cup
England avoided a major World Cup upset against DR Congo in Atlanta, coming through a difficult match under Thomas Tuchel. The DRC pushed hard, with their goalkeeper in outstanding form and Lionel Mpasi impressing, but England ultimately averted what would have been one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history. England now face a sterner test at the Azteca in Mexico City, where Tuchel will need a sharper performance from the start.
Paraguay Knock Out Germany in World Cup Round of 32
Paraguay have beaten Germany in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, one of the tournament's standout upsets. The result puts Paraguay into the next round and eliminates Germany, joining a storied list of World Cup shocks that includes Ireland over Italy in 1994 and Norway over Brazil in 1998. Germany, one of football's most decorated nations, are out of the World Cup at the last-32 stage — a result that will define the tournament's early narrative.
Belgium Beat Senegal 3-2 After Stunning Two-Goal Comeback in Extra Time
Belgium came from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32 at the World Cup. Youri Tielemans scored the winning penalty in stoppage time of extra time to complete the comeback and send Belgium through to the next round. Belgium's victory, overturning a two-goal deficit in extra time, is one of the more dramatic World Cup knockout results — and eliminates Senegal from the tournament.
Inter Milan and Italy Defender Bastoni Under Investigation Over Alleged Escort Ring
Alessandro Bastoni, defender for Inter Milan and Italy, is under investigation for allegedly soliciting sex from a child. The probe places one of European football's most prominent centre-backs at the centre of a serious criminal matter. Bastoni is a key figure for both Inter Milan and the Italian national side, and a criminal investigation of this nature carries significant implications for his immediate future at club and international level.
FIFA Reports Significant Rise in Racist Online Abuse at World Cup
FIFA's social media protection service has recorded a significant increase in the most serious examples of racist abuse online during the World Cup. The findings raise fresh concerns about the scale of discrimination targeting the tournament. A documented surge in the worst forms of racist abuse during a World Cup signals a serious and worsening problem that football's governing body will face pressure to address.