FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 32 | Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington | Referee: Said Martinez
Note: The score was 2-2 after 90 minutes. Belgium won 3-2 in extra time, Tielemans converting a penalty at 124 minutes and 44 seconds — the latest winning goal in World Cup history.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, Senegal were cruising. Two-nil up. Deservedly so. The Lions of Teranga had dominated for an hour, scored two beautiful goals, and Belgium — who had removed Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku before the hour mark — looked spent. The whole of Africa was willing them to the Round of 16.
Then Romelu Lukaku came off the bench. Then Youri Tielemans headed home an equaliser two minutes and 38 seconds after that. Then extra time. Then a penalty after a seven-minute VAR check. Then Tielemans, who had been involved in the foul that caused it, stepped up and sent it into the top right corner.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal after extra time. The greatest comeback of this World Cup. The latest winning goal in tournament history. And Senegal — who had done everything right for 86 minutes — going home.
Habib Diarra scored the first in the 24th minute. Sadio Mané’s inswinging cross was flicked on by Sarr’s twisting header and the ball bounced back off the upright. Diarra followed in. The Sunderland midfielder — his goal the eighth scored at this tournament by a player from the club, more than any team bar Real Madrid and PSG — celebrated with arms wide. Belgium, without a goal in open play across their first two group games, were already a goal down and looking alarmed.
The second half barely started before Senegal made it two. Ismaïla Sarr — four goals at this World Cup already, one of the tournament’s outstanding players — received Moussa Niakhaté’s long ball and controlled it on his chest perfectly. The space between Belgium’s centre-backs had been exploited all afternoon. Sarr sent his shot past Courtois. 2-0. It was brilliant. It was both simple and beautiful at the same time. It looked like it was over.
Courtois then made three crucial saves to prevent it becoming 3-0. Belgium survived. Three saves that kept them alive. Without them, the next part of the story never happens.
What Garcia did next caused real debate. He took De Bruyne off before the hour. Doku too. With the team two down and needing goals, he replaced his two most dangerous attackers. He brought on Trossard and Lukaku instead — the veteran striker on his 92nd international appearance.
Just before that change, Tielemans and Raskin had exchanged heated words at the hydration break. Tielemans had been brilliant in midfield but the frustration of the scoreline was boiling over. Belgium were not playing. The system was broken. Something had to change.
Lukaku changed it. In the 86th minute, he got on the end of a move and finished. His 92nd international goal. Suddenly the atmosphere inside Lumen Field was completely different. Belgium had a goal. Four minutes of normal time remaining. Anything was possible.
Two minutes and 38 seconds later, Trossard crossed from the left and Tielemans headed home. 2-2. The bench exploded. Garcia was on his feet. Lumen Field on one side was in delirium, the other in disbelief. The referee’s whistle confirmed extra time.
In extra time, Lukébakio clipped the crossbar. Then came the moment. Lamine Camara fouled Tielemans inside the area — not the clearest contact, the kind of decision that goes either way depending on the referee’s interpretation. VAR reviewed it for seven minutes. The longest seven minutes of Senegal’s evening. The decision was penalty.
Pathé Ciss threw himself to the ground trying to unsettle Tielemans at the spot. It did not work. The Belgium captain hit it into the top right corner. 124 minutes and 44 seconds. The latest winning goal in World Cup history. The comeback was complete.
Garcia said Senegal deserved to win. He was right. He said he was happy it was Belgium. That was also right. Rudi Garcia’s assessment of his own side’s opponents was unusually honest for a manager who had just won. “It’s the best African nation. It’s as simple as that.”
Senegal’s Krépin Diatta said Belgium should not have been allowed to get back into the game. He was also right. Three statements, all true, all from different perspectives of the same extraordinary evening.
Belgium are back in the Round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments. They face the winner of USA versus Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle. Lukaku and Tielemans — both instrumental — showed that whatever this generation of Belgian football is, it is not finished yet.
For live World Cup scores and Round of 16 coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full results, standings and knockout bracket at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal (AET) FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32 | Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington | Referee: Said Martinez
Goals: Habib Diarra 24′ (Senegal, assist: Mané cross-Sarr flick-upright rebound), Ismaïla Sarr 51′ (Senegal, assist: Niakhaté long ball — chest control), Romelu Lukaku 86′ (Belgium — 92nd international goal), Youri Tielemans 89′ header (Belgium, assist: Trossard cross), Youri Tielemans 120’+5′ pen (Belgium — 124:44, latest goal in World Cup history)
Score at 90 minutes: 2-2 | Full-time AET: 3-2 Belgium
Belgium: Courtois; defenders; Tielemans, Raskin, De Bruyne (Trossard 58′), Doku (Lukaku 58′); attackers; Lukébakio Senegal: Diaw; Niakhaté, Kossounou, defenders; Ciss, Camara, Ndiaye; Mané, Sarr, Diarra; others
Records: Tielemans’ penalty — latest winning goal in World Cup history (124 minutes, 44 seconds). Belgium’s second comeback from 2-0 down in World Cup knockout stage (also beat Japan 3-2 in 2018 Round of 16). Lukaku’s 92nd international goal.
