Belgium players celebrated wildly in the dressing room after a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Senegal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match in Seattle on Wednesday. Youri Tielemans converted a 125th-minute penalty to seal the win, sending the Red Devils into the last 16 where they will face the USA.
Record-Breaking Comeback
Belgium trailed 2-0 as late as the 85th minute, making it the latest two-goal deficit in regulation time that a team has overcome to avoid defeat in World Cup history, according to Opta Analyst. Tielemans' penalty in the 124th minute and 44th second became the latest goal ever scored in a FIFA World Cup match.
Match Details
Senegal took control early through Habib Diarra, who scored in the 24th minute after Ismaila Sarr's effort hit the post. Sarr doubled the lead in the 51st minute, racing onto a long ball and calmly finishing past Thibaut Courtois. Sarr's goal was his fourth of the tournament, equalling Roger Milla's record for most goals by an African player in a single World Cup.
Belgium's fightback began in the 86th minute when substitute Romelu Lukaku scored from close range after Thomas Meunier's delivery. Three minutes later, Tielemans headed in Leandro Trossard's cross to force extra time. In the second period of extra time, a VAR review awarded Belgium a penalty for Lamine Camara's foul on Tielemans, who stepped up to convert the spot kick and complete the turnaround.
Historic Achievements
According to the source, Belgium became the first team to recover from the latest two-goal deficit in regulation time in World Cup history. Trossard strengthened his claim as the tournament's leading creator, with his assist for the equaliser taking him to 16 chances created at the 2026 World Cup, more than any other player.
Despite the defeat, Senegal achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first African nation to score 10 goals in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Dressing Room Celebrations
In the Belgian dressing room, Tielemans led the celebrations with music playing, as teammates shouted and cheered with joy. Water bottles, soft drinks, and fruit were on the table as the 'Player of the Match' enjoyed the moment with his squad.
