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Belgium claimed a 3-2 win over Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday, with a controversial penalty right at the end of extra time deciding the tie in favour of the European team.
The Lions of Teranga appeared set for a comfortable victory when they went into a two-goal lead (Habib Diarra 25’ and Ismaila Sarr 51’), but the Red Devils scored twice in quick succession (Romelu Lukaku 86’ and Youri Tielemans 89’) near the end of regulation time to send the game to an extra 30 minutes.
And a shootout appeared to be the logical conclusion until Belgium were awarded a highly-debatable penalty right at the death, which was converted by Tielemans to secure a dramatic 3-2 triumph.
Senegal started brightly and were achingly close to a goal in the 13th minute, with Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois fumbling a cross from Ismail Jakobs and Ismaila Sarr unwittingly directing the rebound toward the target, only for the ball to hit the post.
The winger had a second effort while scrambling on the ground, but could only find the side netting.
The Lions of Teranga broke through in the 25th minute, with a patient spell of dominance rewarded when Sadio’s Mane cross was headed onto the same post by Sarr, but this time the rebound fell for Habib Diarra, who gleefully fired home at close range for 1-0.
Belgium showed more intent and intensity through the remainder of the first half, but created no clear chances with which to test Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
The start of the second half saw the Red Devils swap out Charles De Ketelaere for Romelu Lukaku in attack, but it was the West Africans who doubled their lead in the 51st minute.
Moussa Niakhate sent a raking diagonal pass from deep on the left to pick out Sarr, who controlled superbly on the chest before crashing the ball beyond Courtois for a 2-0 advantage – and his fourth goal of this World Cup.
Belgium initially offered up little in response, with their only notably effort coming in the 78th minute when substitute Dodi Lukebakio cut inside from the right and fired off a shot which flashed just wide of the target.
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However, the European side kept on plugging away and were rewarded with goal in the 86th minute when Lukaku swept home Thomas Meunier’s cross from the right.
And three minutes later the Red Devils levelled the game at 2-2, with Youri Tielemans beating Diaw to Leandro Trossard’s cross and heading home into an empty net – sending the game to an extra half hour of play.
The first half of extra time saw no real scoring chances created, while the second featured a close shave for Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye, who skewed a shot just wide of the mark in the 109th minute after good set up play from Bara Ndiaye.
Eight minutes later Belgium had a glaring chance to win the game when a ball fell kindly for Lukebakio in the penalty area, but his snap shot hit the top of the crossbar.
However, a VAR review for a possible penalty was called due to contact between Lamine Camara and Tielemans earlier in the move.
Referee Said Martinez looked at several replays before deciding to award a spot kick to Belgium.
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