Belgium’s Dramatic Victory Eliminates Senegal in 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup witnessed a gripping match as Belgium staged a comeback to defeat Senegal. Senegal appeared dominant with goals by Habib Diarra in the 25th minute and Ismaila Sarr in the 51st minute, holding a lead for most of the Round-of-32 match.

However, Belgium shocked Senegal with two rapid goals in three minutes. Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored, equalizing the match and pushing it into extra time. In the 125th minute, with the match set to go to penalty kicks, Tielemans earned and converted a penalty, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory for Belgium. This goal set a new record for the latest goal in men’s World Cup history, according to ESPN.

Tielemans buried the penalty to notch a brace and, more importantly, put Belgium up 3-2 in the 125th minute.

Despite frantic efforts, Senegal could not find an equalizer, resulting in a stunning and controversial defeat. The video assistant referee (VAR) review of Tielemans’ penalty incident took seven minutes, leading to dissatisfaction among fans and Senegal players. The referee, known for previous controversial calls, awarded a decisive penalty to Belgium.

Notable soccer figures commented on the officiating. Apple TV’s lead MLS analyst Taylor Twellman highlighted the referee’s controversial history with VAR decisions. Soccer journalist Steve Davis expressed concern about changing foul standards during the tournament, which negatively affected Senegal.

Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, refrained from blaming the officiating for the loss. He stated, “We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty. I’d rather not comment, not interpreting the referee’s decision.”

In the next stage, Belgium will face the winner between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6.