Belgium had one of the most dramatic comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, overcoming two goals down in the final stages to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and to win a place in the Round of 16 with a 3-2 win against the African team.
Captain Youri Tielemans was the hero as he took a nerveless penalty in the 125th minute in a game in Seattle that was one of the best. His spot kick completed a remarkable turnaround in the end at just five minutes of normal time.
Belgium will stay in Seattle for a blockbuster Round of 16 match with co-hosts United States men’s national soccer team, which beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the knockout stage.
Senegal appeared very much on the cusp of one of the biggest wins in World Cup history for most of the match. Habib Diarra scored a goal on a rebound after Ismaïla Sarr had the ball hit the post.
Sarr then doubled Senegal's lead with another clinical finish, taking his tally to four goals in the tournament and equalling the record of the great Roger Milla for the most goals scored by an African player in a single FIFA World Cup.
With Belgium 2-0 down and time running out, their celebrated golden generation seemed to be headed for a heartbreaking exit. Veteran stars Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois appeared to be playing their last World Cup match together.
However Belgium refused to surrender.
Lukaku began to hope for an unlikely comeback by pulling a goal back late in regulation time. The Red Devils continued to push and eventually settled for an equaliser from captain Tielemans and the match went into extra time after recovering from a seemingly impossible position.
Neither side was able to find the winner in extra time until deep into the closing minutes. Belgium was awarded a penalty in the 125th minute when Senegal's players protested strongly so that the referee's reaction was to intervene as they surrounded the referee in an attempt to overturn the decision.
Tielemans remained composed despite the long wait and pressure. The Aston Villa midfielder confidently converted from the spot in what was a memorable 3-2 win and sent Belgium into the last 16.
After the drama, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia praised his captain for his team’s performance after the dramatic victory.
"What matters is that Youri Tielemans had the composure and the quality. Again, he showed the experience needed to take that kind of penalty because it’s not easy," Garcia said.
The Belgian coach noted the physical and mental challenge of taking a decisive penalty after more than 120 minutes of football.
"At 2-2, in the 120th minute or even later, when you’re tired, and Youri was feeling it physically, to go and score that penalty is a difficult task. He succeeded. So he’s sent us through to the Round of 16. Thank you to our captain. I think he was outstanding."
Garcia also thinks the amazing comeback could strengthen Belgium’s squad going into the rest of the tournament.
"Going 2-0 down and then coming back to make it 2-2 brings a huge lift and now the journey is on. A story like that can bring a group even closer together. It’s a lesson in the players that until the final whistle goes out and the team goes to the final whistle anything can ever happen to the players.”
For Senegal, the loss was a devastating end to a successful campaign. Head coach Pape Thiaw said his team lost control when they couldn’t keep their two-goal lead.
"We had the game in hand at 2-0, but once Belgium scored, we dropped deeper and they found another goal. Unfortunately, it slipped away from us," Thiaw said.
The Senegal coach also questioned the late penalty decision but accepted the referee's verdict.
"There was no penalty, our interpretation was. The players were entitled to contest it but they respected the referee's decision. It’s hard to lose a match like this. Football can be cruel."
Belgium’s remarkable escape keeps alive hopes of their experienced core and sets up an intriguing Round of 16 clash against the United States. Confident after one of the greatest turnarounds in World Cup history, the Red Devils will still have much left to give in the campaign for FIFA World Cup gold.
