Belgium secured their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic comeback victory. Trailing by two goals until just four minutes before the end of regulation time, the Red Devils rallied to defeat Senegal 3-2 at Lumen Field in Seattle on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Senegal took the lead through goals from Habib Diarra in the 25th minute and Ismaïla Sarr in the 52nd minute. With only four minutes remaining in normal time, Belgium mounted an incredible comeback as Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute before Youri Tielemans equalized in the 89th minute, forcing the match into extra time.
The drama continued in the closing stages of extra time. Tielemans was brought down inside the penalty area, and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Tielemans calmly converted the penalty into the top-right corner, sealing Belgium’s place in the Round of 16.
The victory marked one of the greatest comebacks in Belgium’s World Cup history. It was only the second time in the last 11 editions of the FIFA World Cup that a team had recovered from a two-goal deficit to win. Belgium previously achieved a similar feat by defeating Japan 3-2 in the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“Being part of this comeback is a proud moment because I scored the final two goals that brought the team victory today. I’m very proud to help the team score and secure the win,” Tielemans said.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia praised his players’ composure and mentality against Senegal. He said their ability to overturn the deficit and score the decisive goal late in extra time reflected the team’s outstanding character.
“In football, anything is possible as long as you believe. We made the necessary tactical adjustments, and our performance improved,” Garcia said.
A Cruel Sense of Déjà Vu
The defeat was deeply ironic for Senegal—a cruel case of déjà vu. The Lions of Teranga once again suffered heartbreak following a VAR decision, just six months after a similar controversy overshadowed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. This time, another VAR intervention brought their World Cup campaign to an end.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw chose not to dispute the referee’s decision to award Belgium the decisive penalty. He said everyone could interpret the incident differently and declined to comment further. However, he acknowledged that his team had failed to protect its lead until the final whistle.
“This is a painful defeat because we played very well. We were two goals ahead, but a football match doesn’t last only 85 minutes. Belgium came back, and we couldn’t stop them. We must congratulate Belgium on reaching the next round,” he said.
Senegal right-back Krépin Diatta admitted his side had fallen short of expectations after their dramatic elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He said the players needed to be mentally prepared for the demands of the knockout stage, but Senegal ultimately failed to complete its mission.
“We failed. We had the opportunity to create a beautiful chapter in World Cup history. But we have to accept that we were unable to accomplish that mission,” he said.***
