World Cup 2026: Belgium stun Senegal with dramatic comeback and penalty heartbreak
Key takeaways
- Belgium staged an extraordinary second-half comeback to eliminate Senegal 3-2 in an epic Round of 32 encounter in Seattle, advancing to the last 16 after Youri Tielemans' coolly converted penalty in extra time.
- Issued on: 02/07/2026 - 00:56Modified: 02/07/2026 - 01:09
- By: Mehdi BOUZOUINA Belgium's Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring their third goal.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Belgium staged an extraordinary second-half comeback to eliminate Senegal 3-2 in an epic Round of 32 encounter in Seattle, advancing to the last 16 after Youri Tielemans' coolly converted penalty in extra time. The Diables Rouges erased a two-goal deficit in a remarkable turnaround that sends them through despite Senegal's dominant first-half display.
Issued on: 02/07/2026 - 00:56Modified: 02/07/2026 - 01:09
By: Mehdi BOUZOUINA Belgium's Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring their third goal. © Agustin Marcarian, Reuters Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2 in an epic round of 32 encounter in Seattle on Wednesday evening, overturning a 2-0 first-half deficit through a remarkable second-half comeback.