WC PROGNOSTICATION: Will an underdog African team upset their European opponent on Wed?
53% of users predicted YES — the community missed this one. 51 predictions cast.
On Wednesday, July 1, two African sides in the World Cup round of 32 faced European opponents, and both were eliminated, so no upset occurred. DR Congo, playing in the first knockout match of its history, took a shock 7th-minute lead over England through Brian Cipenga, but Harry Kane equalized with a header in the 75th minute and scored an 86th-minute winner, sending England through 2-1 to a last-16 meeting with co-host Mexico. Senegal built a 2-0 lead over Belgium through Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, only for Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to score twice in the closing minutes of regulation to force extra time. Belgium then won 3-2 on a contested Tielemans penalty awarded after a lengthy VAR review, converted with 124 minutes and 44 seconds on the clock, the latest goal in World Cup history. Both matches were competitive, and DR Congo and Senegal each came within minutes of a historic upset, but the European sides ultimately advanced. The Predict Six community had leaned toward "yes" at 53%, expecting at least one African upset on the day, but the outcome resolved no.