Belgium Rally From Two Down to Eliminate Senegal, Eye U.S. in Round of 16
Belgium overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 in extra time in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match at Seattle Stadium on July 1, 2026, completing one of the tournament's most dramatic reversals. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, Youri Tielemans levelled seconds later, and the Leicester City midfielder then converted a penalty in the 120th-plus minute to send Belgium through.
Senegal had commanded the match for large stretches. Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the 25th minute, converting a rebound after Ismaila Sarr struck the post. Sarr then doubled the advantage in the 51st minute, finishing from a Moussa Niakhaté pass to give Senegal firm control of the tie. The match was briefly halted in the 32nd minute when multiple pitch invaders entered the field; security personnel apprehended several individuals before play resumed. The interruption did not materially alter Senegal's dominance at that stage. liga otp banka
Belgium's recovery was notable for its circumstances. Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, two of the squad's most prominent attackers, were substituted off in the 56th minute with the scoreline at 2-0. The comeback was built instead from the bench: Lukaku, introduced at halftime, scored the first goal from a Thomas Meunier assist - Meunier himself having entered in the 78th minute. Tielemans, who had started the match, scored both the equaliser and the decisive penalty. Belgium had finished third at the 2018 World Cup but exited in the group stage in 2022; this result extends their run into the last 16 of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Belgium's Round of 16 opponent will be confirmed later on July 1, when the United States face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a separate Round of 32 fixture at Levi's Stadium. A U.S. victory would produce a Belgium-United States last-16 tie. Should the Americans advance, they will face a Belgium side that enters the next round with considerable momentum, having recovered from a position that appeared terminal entering the final minutes of regulation.
