Belgium 3-2 Senegal - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings
Belgium Snatch Victory from Jaws of Defeat to Sink Senegal
An utterly stunning affair in Seattle saw Belgium overturn a 2-0 deficit late on to send the game into extra-time before winning it with a penalty right at the end of the additional 30 to earn a gigantic 3-2 victory.
After a brilliant 85 minutes of football from Senegal, with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr they looked destined for a last 16 berth. Instead, the late strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans sent the game into extra-time, and late penalty by Tielemans stabbed Senegal right where it hurt to set up a tie at the same ground versus USA or Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Habib Diarra gives Senegal the lead! 🇸🇳⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 1, 2026
A deserved opener against Belgium after a bright start pic.twitter.com/eiYDLoJZj1
Belgium 3-2 Senegal: Round of 32 As it Happened
After all the massive shocks we have had so far and near misses, Belgium and Senegal locked horns in Seattle in a match which promised to be a very hard-fought affair.
The CAF nations have had a very strong World Cup this summer, however, only Morocco have won a Round of 32 match so far, with three nations already sent packing - Senegal would hope to be joining the 2022 semi-finalists, but they didn't get off to the greatest start.
As per, the Lions of Teranga took a while to get going, and a strike through Leandro Trossard almost broke the deadlock with Mory Diaw equal to it. Senegal did their chance soon after. A brilliant build up down the left side saw the ball with Ismail Jakobs on the left wing - his cross was almost perfect, but the smallest of fingertips from Thibaut Courtois was enough to put Sarr off, who couldn't quite convert from close range.
With both sides starting to settle, we got to see what they had in their arsenal going forward - Senegal looked rather dangerous, especially with the scary and in-form front three they possessed; Belgium on the other hand looked rather lacklustre and lacked options when entering the final third, or at best lacking the ability to complete the final pass.
Leading into the hydration break, Senegal certainly looked the better side, and they also eventually took a very deserved lead. The ball again was worked well across the pitch in midfield, with Sadio Mane collecting just outside the box. His cross found Sarr, whose header flicked back into the middle off the post, where Diarra was on hand to register his first World Cup goal.
It came with little to no surprise that Belgium were more threatening down the right flank with Jeremy Doku; but even then the Red Devils really struggled to get anything going for them. Senegal's shape held strong and proved to be a difficult defence to breach, intercepting any balls which did come inside from either wing.
As half-time quickly approached, Belgium did find the opportunity the were looking for after creating almost nothing for 45 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne won his aerial duel against his Senegalese marker, and played the ball out to Doku. The 24-year-old took on Jakobs well to create space for a shot, but Jakobs stuck enough of a leg on it to force the ball out for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Maxim De Cuyper let one release at range, which forced what was certainly the best save of the game so far from Diaw.
A later free-kick straight into the wall demonstrated what a frustrating and relatively toothless half from the European side - the nation were calling for Lukaku, but how long will he get to make a mark?
Half-Time Score: Belgium 0-1 Senegal
Speaking of, it was Lukaku who indeed was introduced to Seattle over the interval, with Charles De Ketelaere making way in hopes to turn the tide.
Pape Thiaw would have had one message to his side during the break - keep attacking them. Belgium looked weak and vulnerable, and Senegal soon took full advantage.
Moussa Diakhate played an absolutely fabulous ball over the top, but it was the movement and positioning of Sarr that stood out. The Crystal Palace star found the perfect gap between Belgium's two centre-halves, before taking a stunning first touch with his chest, and the composure to then slot it past the Real Madrid number one so confidently was a moment that could prove crucial.
Belgium quickly looked for some sort of response, and it was feeding Lukaku in any area that created any real chances - even if they weren't good ones. First, the Inter forward found Doku, who struck into the side netting, before later teeing up De Bruyne, but a low block Senegal defence continued to hold firm.
Following a rather lacklustre second period following the goal, the hydration break soon came, tempers started to flare amongst the Belgian camp with Youri Tielemans and Trossard clashing. With 20 minutes to go, Belgian weren't just going out, but they were crashing out with a whimper.
Following the hydration break, Belgium still had little to offer. The fact that their best efforts to getting back into the tie were popshots from outside the box summed up their abysmal performance really. It was a close effort, but not one that would have got past a Diaw who likely had Dodi Lukebakio's effort covered.
As time whittled down, Belgium's luck was running out fast, and they were doing very little to put a halt to it. Tielemans had a decent look which looked quite open following a smart move that caught the west African nation off guard, but it wasn't to be.
Heading to the close, it was actually Senegal who had the last best look of the game, with Mane the one forcing Courtois into a strong save to stop the score getting out of hand. Lukaku gave his side some very late hope, getting onto the end of Meunier's low cross to get it above and over Diaw.
Belgium are level! 😱
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 1, 2026
Youri Tielemans to the rescue as Belgium complete a dramatic late comeback 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/LmlCLcx6Gt
As time surely looked like it was running out and a place in the last 16 was booked, Trossard delivered an excellently weighted ball to Tielemans who beat Diaw to it to send their fans into late delirium and the stage was now set for an additional 30 minutes to decide a winner after Senegal looked destined for it.
Full-Time Score: Belgium 2-2 Senegal
Extra-time was now upon us in this utterly odd round of 32 clash; despite Senegal having pretty much both feet into the next round, it was Belgium who now had all the momentum.
Although what soon passed was a rather uneventful 15 minutes, it was now evident Belgium were now very much in the tie and were looking the more likely of the sides to find that elusive winner.
With time closing in on penalties, chances were very much few and far between with neither side looking to press forward. However, that almost changed. A smooth ball from Krepin Diatta gave Bara Ndiaye a good opportunity to run to goal with the ball; he opted to pull it back to Ibrahim Mbaye, but his effort was sliced ever so slightly wide of the post - penalties were looming.
There was one last chance for Belgium before spot-kicks though. A ball crossed in dangerously and, despite a penalty shout for a foul on Tielemans, Lukabakio had the ball fall perfectly for him but the forward blasted his shot skywards and up off the bar.
And after an extensive VAR check, a penalty was given - an opportunity for the Red Devils to save their skin.
From what seemed inevitable, it was all about to fall apart - this time Senegal wouldn't have time to fight back.
With De Bruyne off, it was Tielemans who stepped up to the plate - a deep breath and a wonderfully dispatched strike into the top right corner - it was Belgium who completed yet another incredible World Cup comeback.
Seven minutes extra were played after the penalty, and Senegal were pressing ever so hard, and earned a dnagerous free-kick which would be the final kick of a World Cup classic.
Free-kick missed by Pape Sarr. Final whistle blown. Ecstasy for Belgium. Agony for Senegal.
Full-Time After Extra-Time: Belgium 3-2 Senegal
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: These are the Belgium and Senegal starting XI'S in the World Cup Round of 32! 🇧🇪🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/KwCZVI1nbc
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 1, 2026
Belgium Player Ratings
- Thibaut Courtois - 6
- Maxim De Cuyper - 6
- Arthur Theate - 7
- Brandon Mechele - 7
- Timothy Castagne - 7
- Hans Vanaken - 6
- Youri Tielemans - 9
- Leandro Trossard - 8
- Kevin De Bruyne - 6
- Jeremy Doku - 6
- Charles De Ketelaere - 5
Substitutes:
- Romelu Lukaku (HT) - 8
- Nicolas Raskin (56') - 6
- Dodi Lukebakio (56') - 7
- Diego Moreira (63') - 6
- Thomas Meunier (78') - 7
- Amadou Onana (109') - 6
Senegal Player Ratings
- Mory Diaw - 6
- Ismail Jakobs - 6
- Moussa Niakhate - 7
- Pathe Ciss - 7
- Krepin Diatta - 7
- Pape Gueye - 6
- Idrissa Gueye - 6
- Habib Diarra - 8
- Sadio Mane - 7
- Ismaila Sarr - 9
- Iliman Ndiaye - 7
Substitutes:
- Lamine Camara (66') - 6
- Ibrahim Mbaye (73') - 7
- Pape Sarr (73') - 6
- Nicolas Jackson (93') - 6
- Malick Diouf (93') - 6
- Bara Ndiaye (95') - 6
"Stop that if you dare!" 🤯
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 1, 2026
Ismaïla Sarr with an incredible touch and finish 🇸🇳⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ns2tTX1MKA
Player of the Match - Ismaila Sarr
Despite the result, I think there is no arguing the deserved recipient of this label.
The Palace forward was absolutely superb today. His positioning, his pressing, his movements and most importantly his composure was on point, and a massive reason Senegal won as comfortably as they did.
The rise to head the ball onto the post which led to the opener was unlucky. However, his run for the second, combined with his outstanding first touch and composure to beat one of the world's best goalkeepers was simply remarkable.
Not many forwards could have finished that. Everything had to be perfect - and it was.
Thomas Davies-Crisp 
Harry Pascoe 
Jake Brown 