Belgium booked their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after producing a remarkable late comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in a dramatic Round of 32 clash at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday.
Senegal seemed to be comfortably moving into the next round after taking complete control of the match.
The Lions of Teranga scored first in the 25th minute when Habib Diarra was quickest to react and tapped in after Ismaila Sarr’s header hit the post, giving the African side a well-deserved lead.
Belgium complete the comeback to enter the Round of 16! 💪#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2026
They made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half. Sarr, who had earlier assisted the goal, then scored himself with a powerful finish past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, putting Senegal in full control.
However, Belgium mounted a strong late comeback. Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, coming off the bench, brought his team back into the game with a goal in the 86th minute.
Just three minutes later, captain Youri Tielemans scored the equalizer, shocking Senegal and sending the match into extra time.
Both teams continued pushing for a winner, and the game looked set for a penalty shootout until late in extra time.
In the 125th minute, Tielemans was fouled inside the penalty area and calmly converted the resulting penalty to complete a dramatic comeback and give Belgium a 3-2 win.
The defeat ends Senegal’s strong World Cup run, while Belgium advance to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of the United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match on July 6 in Seattle, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.
