FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium Trail 0-2 Before Lukaku Brace and Tielemans Winner Seal Incredible Round of 32 Victory

Belgium staged an impressive fightback against Senegal in the Round of 32 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to the coach Rudi Garcia, until the 83rd minute, he did not believe that his side could win. However, a brief discussion with the players during the break for hydration boosted the morale of the Belgian team, which beat Senegal 3-2 in an intense match.

Belgium was trailing 0-2 until the 85th minute, and it seemed that Belgium would lose the match. However, a brace from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans secured a draw in regular time. It was Youri Tielemans who scored the winner in the 125th minute, making the score 3-2.

In the post-match press conference, Rudi Garcia said, "Football is a game full of emotions. It wasn't easy to believe we could make a comeback in the 83rd minute. During the hydration break, I told the players that if we scored one more goal, the match could change. We did just that, and the match was back on track." He added that both teams had chances in extra time, but the momentum was in Belgium's favor at that time. According to him, this victory will further strengthen the team's confidence.

Belgium will now play co-hosts the United States in the Round of 16 on Monday at Seattle Stadium with the winner going into the quarter-finals. The main concern of the team at the moment was getting the players recovered, Garcia said. He added that a 120-minute match is very demanding for the players. The effects were clearly visible at the end of the match, so rest is paramount now."