SEATTLE — Belgium will extend their stay in the Pacific Northwest following the most dramatic comeback in the 2026 World Cup to date.
Trailing by multiple goals to Senegal with five minutes remaining in regulation at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday, the Red Devils furiously rallied to tie the game. Later in extra time, just moments from the game going to decisive penalty kicks, Belgium captain Youri Tielemans drilled home the game-winning goal on a PK awarded following a VAR review.
Belgium still needed to survive a final free kick from just outside their penalty box on the final play of the game, but in the end they advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-2 win.
It sets up a potential showdown against the United States back in Seattle on Monday. The USMNT play their round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday night.
Whoever the opponent ultimately is, it will come in familiar surroundings. Belgium’s World Cup base camp is just a few miles down the road at the Sounders FC Performance Center, and the Red Devils opened their World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Egypt in another dramatic game.
But that paled in comparison to Wednesday’s most improbable comeback.
Senegal dominated the first 85 minutes of the match, with the Lions of Teranga mercilessly pressuring Belgium’s overwhelmed backline. After Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a diving attempt to thwart an early attempt, Senegal opened the scoring on a rebound by Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra in the 25th minute.
Senegal made it 2-0 in the 51st minute on an outstanding goal by Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who took a long ball from Moussa Niakhate off his chest, shielded a defender and knocked his shot past a helpless Courtois.
Belgium appeared headed for a World Cup exit with little in the way of a threat on Senegal goalie Mory Diaw. Red Devils coach Rudi Garcia brought Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku on at halftime and later subbed off Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, but the moves did little to change the momentum of the game.
That was until Lukaku found the back of the net with an 86th-minute goal. With their World Cup hopes resuscitated, Belgium continued to press. Tielemans scored his first goal of the game just three minutes later when he fought through a pair of Senegal defenders to head a ball past Diaw, who had ventured out of his goal.
That set the stage for a dramatic ending for the sellout crowd of 66,925.
Extra time remained scoreless, with Belgium’s Dodi Lukebakio sending a solid look over the goal in the 109th minute. That was after the ball had passed by Tielemans, who went down on a tackle by Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara.
Referee Said Martinez was alerted to a VAR review, and several minutes later returned with the decision that a penalty kick had been awarded. Lukaku initially had the ball, before handing it to the Red Devils captain.
Tielemans, who had made one of two previous career penalty kicks for the national team, calmly drilled it into the upper right-hand corner for the game-winning goal.
“This Senegal side is one of the best teams in the tournament. Technically, physically and tactically, it was really tough,” Lukaku said. “But when we stepped up the intensity of our pressing, when we were there for the second ball, our team spirit shone through and we won the match.”
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was asked multiple times for his opinion about the VAR decision but declined to offer one.
“Some people said there should not be (a foul given),” Thiaw said. “I do not want to interpret th referee’s decision. There’s always room for interpretation. I’d rather not comment on him. I’d rather not comment at all.”
Thiaw acknowledged that his team did not recover its energy level following Belgium’s goals late in regulation, and that the loss served as a “cruel” end to his team’s World Cup.
“A football match is not an 85-minute one,” Thiaw said. “Belgium came back and we were not able to handle that.
“Football is a cruel sport. It’s not easy for me, it’s not easy for the players. I feel like they gave it their all. They wanted it for their country, but it did not work out.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
