World Cup 2026: Belgium stun Senegal with late comeback in Seattle

Two down, then Lukaku and Tielemans flipped it

Belgium won a World Cup 2026 Round of 32 tie they had no business winning, beating Senegal 3-2 at Lumen Field in Seattle after trailing by two goals. It took a late double and a penalty deep into extra time to get there.

For most of the evening, Senegal were the better side. Habib Diarra put them ahead before the half-hour, and Ismaila Sarr made it 2-0 early in the second half. Senegal also finished with the more persuasive underlying numbers: 3.54 expected goals (a measure of chance quality) to Belgium's 1.8. On the balance of play, they deserved more.

But football keeps its own accounts. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, Youri Tielemans levelled three minutes later, and the same Tielemans converted a penalty in the closing seconds of extra time to complete the turnaround. A cruel night for Senegal; a survival act for Belgium.

The win sends Belgium through to the Round of 16, where they will meet the winner of United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 July. That opponent is not yet settled, so Belgium wait to learn who lies in wait.

How the two sides lined up at Lumen Field

From 2-0 down to a 120th-minute penalty

Senegal set the tone. Diarra's 25th-minute opener gave them a lead they had earned, and Sarr doubled it in the 51st, finishing off a move started by Moussa Niakhaté. At that point Belgium looked in real trouble.

Domenico Tedesco — well, whoever pulls Belgium's levers — went to the bench early and often. Lukaku had already come on for Charles De Ketelaere at the interval, and a triple reshuffle around the hour mark saw Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku and Hans Vanaken all withdrawn. The changes did not click immediately, and Belgium collected yellow cards through Brandon Mechele and, later, Raphael Garcia, while Senegal's Lamine Camara was booked shortly after arriving.

The comeback came late and fast. Thomas Meunier, himself a second-half substitute, set up Lukaku in the 86th minute, then Leandro Trossard teed up Tielemans in the 89th to level it. Extra time followed, and after 120 minutes plus stoppage, Tielemans stepped up to convert a penalty and settle it. Senegal, chasing an equaliser, were still shuffling their pack right to the end.

The community backed Belgium — barely, and correctly

The futbol.so community leaned towards Belgium, with a 2-1 scoreline the popular pick. They got the winner right, if not quite the drama that delivered it. The official model agreed, making Belgium the likeliest victor without ever calling it a certainty.

Opinion was not unanimous. Fans in Argentina and Colombia sided with Belgium too, while those in Austria fancied a narrow 1-0. England's followers were the outliers, backing Senegal to win 3-2 — closer to the truth on chances created than the final board suggested. In the end, the majority read it correctly, even if Senegal spent 85 minutes making them look foolish.

Video highlights

Résumé : BELGIQUE - SÉNÉGAL, encore un MATCH DE FOLIE (16èmes de finale)

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Last minute Penalty sees Belgium Eliminate Senegal | Full Reaction

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Golazo Matchday LIVE: Belgium COMPLETE comeback against Senegal, Tielemans 120th minute goal

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Tielemans nets late equaliser! | Belgium v Senegal | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Belgium v Senegal - Full Post-Match | Neville, Keane & Wright Speak

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HIGHLIGHTS - Belgium v Senegal | One of the GREAT Knockout Games! | FIFA World Cup 2026

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World Cup: Belgium vs Senegal

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World Cup: Belgium vs Senegal

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World Cup: Belgium vs Senegal

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World Cup: Belgium vs Senegal

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Belgium's long-standing reputation as underachievers takes a small edit tonight: they found a way when the numbers said they shouldn't. Senegal, who produced the better chances and led twice, exit a tie they will feel they controlled.

Attention now turns to the Round of 16 on 7 July, where Belgium face the winner of United States versus Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until that tie resolves, they can only wait — and reflect on how narrowly they avoided going home.