BelgiumvsSenegal

Result

Belgium produced one of the great World Cup escapes, coming from 2-0 down in the 86th minute to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time — Youri Tielemans' 125th-minute penalty the latest goal in World Cup history. Senegal controlled most of the ninety and hit the woodwork twice: Habib Diarra side-footed the opener after Ismaïla Sarr's header came off the post, and Sarr made it two just after the break, chesting down Moussa Niakhaté's long pass and thundering it in. Then the collapse: Romelu Lukaku turned in Thomas Meunier's low cross in the 86th, and Tielemans headed Leandro Trossard's deep delivery home in the 89th to force extra time. Deep into its stoppage time, Lamine Camara slid in on Tielemans in the box; after a VAR review, the midfielder picked out the top corner himself. Senegal join South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire and DR Congo as African sides out by fine margins in this round of 32. Belgium advance to the round of 16.

Belgium 4-2-3-14-3-3 Senegal

Belgium

Senegal

Romelu Lukaku86'

Habib Diarra24'

Youri Tielemans89'

Ismaïla Sarr51'

Youri Tielemans120'+5'

Brandon Mechele64'

Lamine Camara67'

52%Possession48%

19Shots19

5On target5

3Saves3

4Corners2

602Passes completed536

86%Pass accuracy84%

12Tackles12

37Touches in box30

Substitutions

Romelu Lukakufor Charles De Ketelaereat 45'

Lamine Camarafor Pape Gueyeat 66'

Dodi Lukébakiofor Jérémy Dokuat 56'

Ibrahim Mbayefor Iliman Ndiayeat 73'

Nicolas Raskinfor Kevin De Bruyneat 56'

Pape Matar Sarrfor Habib Diarraat 73'

Diego Moreirafor Hans Vanakenat 63'

Nicolas Jacksonfor Sadio Manéat 94'

Thomas Meunierfor Maxim De Cuyperat 78'

El Hadji Malick Diouffor Ismail Jakobsat 94'

Amadou Onanafor Leandro Trossardat 109'

Bara Sapoko Ndiayefor Idrissa Gana Gueyeat 96'

At this Stage

Senegal had already broken one precedent — no side before them had ever reached the knockouts after losing their first two group games — and for 85 minutes in Seattle they were busy breaking another, two goals up on Group G winners Belgium with the woodwork struck twice. What followed was one of the great World Cup escapes: Belgium level by the 89th minute, then through in the 125th, Youri Tielemans converting the latest goal in World Cup history for 3-2. Senegal join South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire and DR Congo on this round's list of African sides beaten by the finest of margins. Belgium barely have to pack: the round of 16 keeps them in Seattle on July 7, with the USA next — and with notice served that this team can sleepwalk for 85 minutes and still refuse to lose.

USA✓2

Bosnia and Herzegovina0

Jul 1 · FT

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Belgium✓3

Senegal2

Jul 1 · aet

Seattle Stadium

USA1

Belgium✓4

Jul 6 · FT

Seattle Stadium

Round of 32

USA✓2

Bosnia and Herzegovina0

Jul 1 · FT

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Belgium✓3

Senegal2

Jul 1 · aet

Seattle Stadium

Round of 16

USA1

Belgium✓4

Jul 6 · FT

Seattle Stadium

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Belgium to edge a genuinely even tie, perhaps in extra time. Rudi Garcia's side won Group G but have blown hot and cold, saving their best for a 5-1 rout of New Zealand after drawing with Egypt and Iran. Senegal reached the last 32 the hard way — beaten by France and Norway before thrashing Iraq 5-0 — and the loss of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to a knee injury is a real blow. Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku and Thibaut Courtois give Belgium the higher ceiling, but Sadio Mané and Ismaïla Sarr can punish any sloppiness. 2-1 Belgium.

Both cases written 2026-06-30, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 27% belongs to the draw.