Washington: Belgium produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026, recovering from a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and secure a place in the Round of 16 on Thursday.
Midfielder Youri Tielemans emerged as the hero for Belgium, scoring the equalizer late in regulation time before converting a decisive penalty in the final moments of extra time to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Senegal appeared to be on course for a famous victory after dominating large portions of the match and building a 2-0 lead. The African side opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Habib Diarra reacted quickest to a rebound after Ismaïla Sarr’s effort struck the post. Diarra calmly slotted the ball into the net to give Senegal a deserved advantage.
Senegal doubled their lead early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Sarr controlled a pass from defender Moussa Niakhaté, outmaneuvered his marker, and finished confidently to make it 2-0.
With just minutes remaining, Senegal looked set to advance. However, Belgium launched a dramatic late fightback. In the 86th minute, substitute Thomas Meunier combined brilliantly with Romelu Lukaku, who finished from close range to pull Belgium back into the contest at 2-1.
The momentum shifted immediately. As Senegal struggled to withstand the pressure, Leandro Trossard delivered a dangerous cross in the closing stages of regulation time, and Tielemans found the net to level the score at 2-2, forcing the match into extra time.
Both teams battled intensely during the additional 30 minutes, with the game appearing destined for a penalty shootout. However, deep into extra time, Tielemans was brought down inside the penalty area by a Senegal defender. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded Belgium a penalty.
Tielemans stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, scoring his second goal of the match and sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Red Devils.
Garcia Praises Team’s Belief
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia hailed his players’ determination and belief after the thrilling win.
“In football, anything is possible as long as you continue to believe in yourself. One of our greatest strengths is the depth of our squad because success cannot depend on only eleven players. We found better balance in the second half and corrected some of the mistakes that were hurting our build-up play. Even after conceding a second goal, the players never stopped believing, and eventually the entire picture of the match changed,” Garcia said.
Senegal Left Heartbroken
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw expressed his disappointment after seeing his side surrender a two-goal advantage.
“This defeat is extremely painful because it means our World Cup journey has come to an end. Unfortunately, we could not hold on to our 2-0 lead. Credit to Belgium for fighting back and earning their place in the Round of 16. We have to accept the result because that is football, but it is a very difficult outcome for us to take,” Thiaw said.
Belgium’s dramatic victory keeps their World Cup hopes alive and highlights the resilience that has long defined the European side. Senegal, meanwhile, leave the tournament with heads held high after producing one of the most spirited performances of the knockout stage despite the heartbreaking defeat.
