Belgium Miraculously Advances in World Cup 2026 After Dramatic Win Over Senegal
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Belgium secured a dramatic late victory in their World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Senegal.
- Youri Tielemans scored a crucial equalizer just moments after Senegal had reduced the deficit.
- The article previews other upcoming Round of 16 matches, including Spain vs. Austria and Portugal vs. Croatia.
Belgium experienced a moment of sheer relief and celebration after securing a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Senegal in the Round of 16 of the World Cup 2026. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Belgium appearing to be heading out of the competition before a late surge.
The pivotal moment came in the final minutes of regulation time. After Romelu Lukaku scored to bring Belgium back into the game, Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans capitalized on a significant error by Senegal's goalkeeper, Mory Diaw. Tielemans netted the equalizer just seconds before the final whistle, forcing the match into extra time and completely shifting the momentum.
This narrow escape means Belgium advances to the next stage, while Senegal is eliminated. The article highlights Tielemans as the hero of the match, having single-handedly overturned the deficit and saved Belgium from an earlier exit.
Looking ahead, the tournament continues with other high-stakes Round of 16 fixtures. Notably, Spain, considered a pre-tournament favorite, faces Austria, while Portugal is set to play Croatia in a highly anticipated clash. The article also touches upon the USA's progression to the next round after defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.