World Cup 2026: Tielemans converts late penalty as Belgium beat Senegal 3-2

Belgium cruises to Round of 16 after 3-2 comeback win against Senegal

Tielemans converts the penalty with ice in his veins! Surely the winner for the Red Devils!

BEL 2-2 SEN

Lukebakio misses a golden chance to win it for Belgium! After Tielemans is bundled over inside the area—sparking ignored penalty shouts—the ball drops to Lukebakio 15 yards out. He takes a touch but lofts it over the bar. So close!

Massive chance for Senegal! A brilliant team move through the wings ends with a dangerous cross from the right flank, but Mbaye’s targeted effort flashes just wide of the goal.

108’ | Belgium 2-2 Senegal

So close for Lukaku! A deep ball from the left bounces perfectly in front of the striker, but he failed to make the final touch. 

Nicolas Jackson and El Hadji Malick Diouf ON, Sadio Mané and teammate OFF. Fresh legs up front for the Lions of Teranga.

FULL-TIME: We cannot separate them after 90 minutes! From infighting on the pitch to a sensational late equaliser, Belgium have forced extra time against all odds. Senegal will be kicking themselves for letting a two-goal lead slip. Extra minutes are incoming in Seattle!

Wow. Just wow. Tielemans scores to make it 2-2 deep into stoppage time! Trossard sends a cross into a crowded box. Keeper Mory Diaw comes out to punch it clear with two defenders around him, but Tielemans manages to rise highest, beating everyone to the ball to head home the equaliser. Extraordinary scenes.

Belgium are back in the game! A slick passing move opens up the Senegal defence before a teasing low cross is whipped in from the right. Romelu Lukaku times his run perfectly and calmly slots the ball into the back of the net from close range, giving Belgium hope with five minutes plus stoppage time remaining.

Full-back Maxim De Cuyper darts into the box to rescue an overhit cross meant for Lukaku, knocking it back into danger. Senegal partially clear, but the ball breaks to Dodi Lukebakio. The substitute unleashes a brilliant, curling rocket from long range that flashes just inches wide of the far post. 

81’ | Belgium 0-2 Senegal CLOSE! 

Pure frustration for Belgium. Trossard and Tielemans are caught in a furious shouting match on their way to the hydration break, forcing Lukaku to step in and separate them. The Red Devils look completely broken on and off the pitch.

Ismaïla Sarr has racked up more goal involvements at the 2026 World Cup than any Senegal player at a single tournament in history.

The game is turning into a real scrap. Belgium are throwing bodies forward but struggling to find any penetration in the final third. With Senegal dropping deep at times, the midfield battle has grown incredibly physical with heavy tackles flying in. The Lions of Teranga are just waiting for the perfect moment to counter.

Chance for Belgium! Tielemans plays a slick combination with Lukaku inside the area, but his eventual shot flashes wide and hits the side netting.

Down 2-0, Tedesco makes a sensational double change, hooking his primary playmaker Kevin De Bruyne alongside the lively Jérémy Doku. Lukebakio and Raskin enter the fray. 

56’ | Belgium 0-2 Senegal

Belgium 0-2 Senegal: Ismaïla Sarr extends the advantage! Senegal play a beautiful long ball over the top from their own half. Sarr tracks it all the way, using a brilliant first touch inside the penalty area to set himself up before drilling his finish past Courtois. 

Mané’s deflected cross drops perfectly to Ndiaye. He looks to curl a shot into the far bottom corner but scuffs the strike wide. High intensity to kick off the half.

Romelu Lukaku enters the fray at halftime, replacing Charles De Ketelaere. A clear statement of intent from the Belgians to start the second half.

46’ | Belgium 0-1 Senegal
We are back underway in Seattle! 45 minutes separate Senegal from a massive World Cup knockout victory. Belgium kick things off, hunting for that crucial equalizer.

Senegal holds the advantage at the break! Habib Diarra’s 25th-minute strike separates the sides after a dominant first-half display from the African giants. Belgium grew into the game late on but found Senegal keeper Mory Diaw in inspired form. Grab a drink, we'll be back in 15 minutes!

What a hit, and what a save! A clever Belgium corner ends with De Cuyper striking a beautiful 25-yard volley. Diaw shows incredible athleticism, diving full-stretch to his left to punch it clear.

SAVE! A lucky escape for Senegal just before halftime. Doku passes up a shooting opportunity to attempt a cross, which deflects heavily off the tracking Jakobs. The ball balloons awkwardly toward the net, forcing Diaw into a brilliant adjustment save as he reverses his momentum to claim the looping ball.

Belgium are desperately searching for an equalizer before the break. They are finally beginning to poke holes in the Senegal defense and find pockets of space, but Domenico Tedesco's men are completely lacking a clinical edge. They are struggling heavily in the final third.

Senegal are putting on a masterclass in possession right now! Another sequence of breathtaking, one-touch passing splits the Belgian defense wide open. Sadio Mané finds himself free inside the box and unleashes a strike, but he can't get enough power behind it. Thibaut Courtois safely holds onto the shot to deny a second.

35’ | Belgium 0-1 Senegal

Senegal take a fully deserved lead! It all starts with another pinpoint cross from Sadio Mané on the left flank. Ismaïla Sarr rises brilliantly, arching backward to loop a powerful header over Thibaut Courtois. The ball rattles violently off the post, but Habib Diarra is the sharpest man in the box—he reacts instantly to tap the rebound into an empty net. The Lions of Teranga are ahead!

Idrissa Gana Gueye lets fly from distance here at Seattle Field, but his effort fails to trouble the goalkeeper and sails off target. Senegal keeping up the pressure!

Jakobs whips in a brilliant cross from the left that causes chaos. Thibaut Courtois uncharacteristically fluffs his clearance, punching it straight to Ismaïla Sarr. Sarr can't get a clean connection on the volley, and his scuffed effort slams side of the post!

13’ | Belgium 0-0 Senegal

Brilliant counter-attack from Belgium! Leandro Trossard sparks the break from deep and drives forward to finish the move himself. He gets a shot on target, but it's a routine save for the Senegal goalkeeper.

All Senegal right now! They look incredibly sharp. Ndiaye uses some dazzling footwork to open up space for a shot, but the Belgium defence recovers to block. Immediately after, Diarra threatens with a brilliant run in behind, but the pass has just too much weight on it.

High-intensity start from both sides! Senegal is immediately looking to feed Sadio Mané out wide on the left.

The referee blows the whistle and we are officially rolling in this Round of 32 clash!

Belgium secured their place in the knockout rounds after an unbeaten, albeit mixed, group stage campaign. The Red Devils got off to a slow start with back-to-back draws against Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0), but they emphatically found their form in their final match by thrashing New Zealand 5-1 to storm into the next round.

Senegal secured their path to the knockout rounds by finishing third in their group. After suffering back-to-back defeats against heavyweights France (3-1) and Norway (3-2), the Teranga Lions bounced back spectacularly in their final match by thrashing Iraq 5-0 to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Belgium: Thibaut Courtois, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Youri Tielemans (C), Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Hans Vanaken, Charles De Ketelaere.

Senegal: Mory Diaw, Pathé Ciss, Moussa Niakhaté, Ismail Jakobs, Krepin Diatta, Idrissa Gueye (C), Pape Gueye, Habib Diarra, Ismaïla Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Sadio Mané.