The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 already had a reputation for chaos. Then Belgium and Senegal decided to crank it to eleven.
Trailing 2-0 in front of a fired-up crowd at Seattle Stadium, the Belgian side looked cooked. Senegal had controlled the tempo, held the lead, and seemed poised to cruise into the next round. But soccer does not care about your plans.
Belgium scored twice in three minutes. Just like that, the game was tied. The noise in the stadium shifted from a roar for Senegal to a nervous hum. Extra time came and went, mostly in a blur of tired legs and desperate clearances. And then, in the 125th minute, things got weird.
Youri Tielemans went down in the box after contact with Senegal defender Lamine Camara. The referee initially waved play on. But after a video review, the call was reversed. Penalty. Camara had tripped Tielemans, the officials ruled, and Belgium had a chance to win it from the spot.
Tielemans stepped up and buried it into the upper right corner. Game over. Comeback complete.
Belgium now moves on to face the United States in the Round of 16 on July 6, back in Seattle. That game just got a whole lot more interesting.
A quick history lesson on Belgium at the World Cup
This is not Belgium’s first rodeo, but it’s close. They have appeared in four World Cups total: 1930, 1986, 2014, and 2018. Their debut came in the very first tournament in Uruguay, where they lost to the United States. That history makes this upcoming matchup feel a little poetic.
In 1986, Belgium made it to the semifinals in Mexico after a 4-3 win over the Soviet Union. They eventually lost to Argentina — the eventual champions. In 2014, they lost to Argentina again, this time 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
Their best showing came in 2018. You remember that one. The 3-2 comeback against Japan in the Round of 16. The 2-1 stunner over Brazil in the quarterfinals. And then a 1-0 loss to France in the semis, who went on to win it all.
This year’s team is younger, less decorated, and maybe even more dangerous because of it. They have already shown they can find a way when the situation looks hopeless. That is exactly the kind of energy you want heading into a knockout game against the host nation.
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