Belgium secured a place in the World Cup round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Senegal in the last 32 match on July 1, 2026. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box, and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead early in the second half with a close-range finish. Senegal pulled one back through Sadio Mané in the 78th minute, but Belgium held on to secure the victory.
First Half Dominance
Belgium controlled possession from the start, with De Bruyne orchestrating play from midfield. Senegal defended deep and looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but Belgium's pressure paid off when De Bruyne unleashed a shot that beat goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The goal came after a sustained period of Belgian pressure, with Hazard and Carrasco causing problems on the wings.
Second Half Decisive
Lukaku made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute, tapping in from a cross by Thomas Meunier. Senegal responded with increased urgency, and Mané scored a header from a corner to set up a tense finale. Belgium's defense, led by Jan Vertonghen, held firm despite late Senegalese pressure. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several key saves to preserve the lead.
According to post-match statistics, Belgium had 58% possession and 12 shots on goal, while Senegal managed 8 shots. The win sets up a round of 16 clash with Brazil, who defeated Switzerland earlier in the day. Belgium coach Roberto Martinez praised his team's resilience: "We knew Senegal would be tough, but we showed character to see out the game."
Impact and Implications
Belgium's victory extends their unbeaten run in the tournament to four matches. Senegal, who finished second in their group, exit the competition after a spirited performance. The match drew an attendance of 45,000 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.
