Belgium advanced to the World Cup round of 16 after a dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal, completing a comeback that was sealed by Youri Tielemans’ penalty in stoppage time of extra time on July 1, 2026 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Tielemans’ spot-kick, awarded after a VAR review in the closing moments of extra time, ended a match in which Belgium had trailed by two goals for much of the evening. (apnews.com)
Senegal stunned the crowd early and led 2-0 thanks to a composed finish from Habib Diarra and a powerful strike from Ismaïla Sarr, who put the West Africans in control shortly after half-time. For long spells Senegal pinned Belgium back and looked the likelier side to progress. (latimes.com)
Belgium’s revival began very late. Substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute and three minutes later Youri Tielemans headed home to level the score, forcing the tie into extra time and shifting momentum completely. Those two late strikes erased a two-goal deficit and dramatically altered the game’s trajectory. (sofoot.com)
The winner came amid controversy. A VAR intervention in the stoppage period of extra time awarded Belgium a penalty after a challenge in the box; Tielemans converted from the spot, sending Belgium through. Critics pointed to the timing and interpretation of the foul, and replays were widely debated online and by pundits after the match. (goal.com)
The result sends Belgium into the last 16 and ends a night of contrasting narratives: Senegal’s disciplined, attacking display that looked to have booked their place, and Belgium’s resilient, if patchy, response that produced one of the tournament’s most dramatic comebacks. The match will be remembered both for the late twist and for the broader questions it raises about VAR decisions in decisive moments. (footballscoreatlas.com)
Original Source: https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/49238481/belgium-vs-senegal-live-world-cup-2026-updates-round-32-clash
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Publish Date: 2026-07-02 04:34:00
