Belgium advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA North-Central America World Cup after a dramatic comeback victory over Senegal.
In the round-of-32 match held at Seattle Stadium in Washington state on June 2 (Korea time), Belgium drew 2-2 through 90 minutes of regulation before winning 3-2, thanks to a decisive penalty kick from Youri Tielemans in the second half of extra time.
Belgium finished third at the 2018 World Cup, its best-ever result. The team was eliminated in the group stage at the most recent tournament in Qatar in 2022, but this time reached the knockout stage and claimed victory in its opening match there.
Early in the group stage this tournament, Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran, putting the team at risk of a second consecutive elimination. But it crushed New Zealand 5-1 in the third match to finish atop Group G and reach the round of 32, and now delivered a thrilling comeback to secure a place in the round of 16.
Belgium will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals against the winner of the United States-Bosnia and Herzegovina match on June 7 in Seattle.
Notably, Belgium trailed Japan 0-2 in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia before scoring three goals in the second half to win 3-2. Now, eight years later, it again overturned a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2.
Senegal, whose best result was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, sought to advance to the round of 16 following the Qatar tournament four years ago, but fell short by the narrowest of margins.
Senegal seized the initiative first. In the 24th minute, Ismaila Sarr's header hit the right post and bounced out, but as Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois dove for the shot and left the goal empty, Mamadou Habib Diarra drove in a right-footed shot to score the opening goal.
Holding a one-goal lead in the first half, Senegal made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when Sarr added another goal.
At halftime, Belgium substituted starting forward Charles De Ketelaere with veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, and in the 56th minute made a bold move by removing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and winger Jeremy Doku.
Belgium continued its offensive but struggled to break through, until finally pulling one back in the 86th minute as defeat loomed.
Thomas Meunier connected a cutback from the right side of the penalty area on a loose ball, and Lukaku rushed in to finish with his right foot. Lukaku, Belgium's all-time leading scorer in international matches, netted his 92nd goal in his 130th career appearance.
With momentum building, Belgium dramatically leveled the score just three minutes later when Tielemans' header off a cross from Leandro Trossard found the net, sending the match into extra time.
In extra time, where the balance held until the end, a penalty kick decided the outcome. In the 102nd minute, Belgium squandered a golden chance to take the lead when Dodi Lukebakio's right-footed shot hit the crossbar and bounced out.
But before that shot, on the incoming cross, Tielemans was brought down by Senegal's Lamine Camara, and following an on-field review by the referee, the incident was declared a penalty kick.
Team captain Tielemans, who had scored the equalizer, stepped up to take the penalty that had been expected to fall to Lukaku. Facing goalkeeper Mory Diaw, Tielemans completely deceived him on the direction before driving in a right-footed shot to bring the hard-fought battle to a close.
