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Spain Edge Belgium 2-1 to Set Up Blockbuster France Semi-Final Clash

July 10, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Late Merino strike sends holders-in-waiting Spain through as World Cup 2026 heads into its final week

Inglewood, California — Spain are into the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a gripping 2-1 win over Belgium at SoFi Stadium, setting up a mouth-watering last-four meeting with France in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14.

Fermín López…

Spain 2-1 Belgium: How It Happened

Spain broke the deadlock through Fermín López — no wait, let’s correct the scorer — Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, calmly finishing from the edge of the box to put Luis de la Fuente’s side ahead. Belgium, who had stunned the tournament by fighting back from the brink in earlier rounds, responded almost immediately. Charles De Ketelaere, in inspired form all summer, drew Belgium level in the 41st minute with a clinical finish that had SoFi Stadium holding its breath.

The game swung back and forth after the break, with both sides creating chances but neither goalkeeper — Unai Simón for Spain — seriously tested until deep into stoppage time. Just when the tie looked destined for extra time, substitute Mikel Merino rose to head home the winner in the 88th minute, sparking wild scenes among the Spanish supporters inside the stadium.

It is a cruel end for Belgium, who arrived in the quarter-finals having survived a series of dramatic knockout escapes, including a stirring comeback against Senegal in the previous round. For Spain, though, the manner of the win — patient, composed, and ultimately ruthless in the closing stages — will only add to the growing belief that this squad has what it takes to go all the way in North America.

Next Up: France Await in Dallas

Spain’s reward is a semi-final date with France, who booked their own place in the last four days earlier with a comfortable 2-0 win over Morocco in Boston, goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé doing the damage. The two European heavyweights will meet at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET, live on FOX and Telemundo in the United States.

It is a repeat of some of the biggest nights in recent tournament football, with both nations boasting squads capable of winning the whole competition outright. France, chasing a return to the final for the third World Cup running, will go in as slight favourites on paper given Mbappé’s red-hot scoring form, but Spain’s technical superiority through midfield and their knack for finding a winner late on makes this one of the semi-final ties of the tournament.

The winner will progress to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final in New York/New Jersey on July 19, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between Norway or England, and Argentina or Switzerland — that tie is scheduled for July 15 in Atlanta.

What This Means for the Tournament

With France and Spain both through, the top half of the World Cup 2026 knockout bracket has delivered exactly the kind of heavyweight collision fans were hoping for. Both sides are unbeaten in the knockout stages so far, and both have shown the ability to grind out results when games are tight — a trait that tends to matter most in the closing stages of a World Cup.

For Belgium, the run ends in the quarter-finals, but few will be able to say this squad underachieved given how close they came to a deeper run. For Spain, attention now turns fully to preparation for a France side that will provide arguably their sternest test of the tournament so far.

Match Facts: Spain vs Belgium

Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Quarter-final
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles
Final Score: Spain 2-1 Belgium
Goalscorers: F. Ruiz 30′ (Spain), C. De Ketelaere 41′ (Belgium), M. Merino 88′ (Spain)
Spain Formation: 4-2-3-1 (Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella…)

Need To Know

Who won the Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarter-final?
Spain won 2-1, with goals from Fabián Ruiz and a late Mikel Merino header settling the contest after Charles De Ketelaere had equalised for Belgium.

Who scored Spain’s winning goal against Belgium?
Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute, heading Spain into the semi-finals.

Who does Spain play in the World Cup 2026 semi-final?
Spain will face France in the semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. ET.

When is France vs Spain in the World Cup 2026?
The France vs Spain semi-final is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.

How did France reach the semi-finals?
France beat Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

Who is in the other World Cup 2026 semi-final?
The second semi-final, on July 15 in Atlanta, will be contested by the winners of Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland.

When is the World Cup 2026 Final?
The Final takes place on July 19, 2026, at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Spain vs Belgium Lineup Confirmed: Yamal vs De Bruyne — The 18-Year-Old Future Against the 34-Year-Old Legend in Their Final Chapter

July 10, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Spain vs Belgium confirmed lineups for World Cup 2026 quarter-final tonight. Lamine Yamal starts for Spain in 4-2-3-1. Kevin De Bruyne leads Belgium’s 4-2-3-1. Tielemans starts again. Lukaku on the bench. Full lineup analysis, key battles and how to watch free.

Published: July 10, 2026 | Category: FIFA World Cup 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

Spain vs Belgium lineup: confirmed. And the lineups tell you everything you need to know about why this quarter-final is the most compelling individual matchup remaining in the 2026 World Cup.

Both teams are playing 4-2-3-1. Mirror formations. The same structure, the same shape, the same tactical identity — two nations that have defined European football across different eras, meeting in the quarter-finals with the same blueprint and completely different generations executing it.

On Spain’s left side of that attacking three: Lamine Yamal. Eighteen years old. The player who was born on the exact same day as Ronaldo’s first great heartbreak. The player who assisted the goal that ended Ronaldo’s final World Cup. The youngest player to score in a World Cup knockout match. The future of European football, confirmed, standing on the left side of Spain’s quarter-final lineup.

In Belgium’s central attacking midfield: Kevin De Bruyne. Thirty-four years old. One Ballon d’Or, six Premier League titles, the Champions League, four consecutive PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards. The greatest central midfielder of his generation. Almost certainly playing his last competitive match at a major international tournament.

Yamal on the left. De Bruyne in the middle. Tonight at 10pm.

This is the match.

Spain vs Belgium — Match Facts

Date: Thursday July 10, 2026
Kickoff: 10pm local time
Venue: TBC — confirmed from the bracket
Round: Quarter-Final — World Cup 2026
TV USA: Fox / FREE on Tubi / Telemundo
TV UK: ITV1 / ITVX — free
TV Spain: RTVE — free to air
TV Belgium: VRT (Dutch) / RTBF (French) — free to air

How to Watch Spain vs Belgium FREE

FREE in the USA:
Tubi — completely FREE, no subscription needed. Go to tubi.tv right now or download the Tubi app on any device.
Fox — free with cable or HD antenna.
Telemundo — Spanish language, free with cable.

FREE in the UK:
ITV1 and ITVX — free to air tonight. No subscription required.

FREE in Spain:
RTVE — Spain’s public broadcaster, free to air at tvrtve.es.

FREE in Belgium:
VRT (Dutch) and RTBF (French) — both free to air. Available to stream online.

FREE Worldwide:
FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com — free where local rights allow.

Paid options: Fubo (USA), DAZN (Canada)

SPAIN CONFIRMED LINEUP — 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Unai Simón (#23)

Defence (back four):
Pedro Porro (#12) — right back
Pau Cubarsí (#22) — centre back
Aymeric Laporte (#14) — centre back
Marc Cucurella (#24) — left back

Double Pivot:
Rodri (#16)
Fabián Ruiz (#8)

Attacking Three:
Lamine Yamal (#19) — right
Dani Olmo (#10) — centre
Álvaro Baena (#15) — left

Striker:
Mikel Oyarzabal (#21)

Manager: Luis de la Fuente

Key tactical note: Marc Cucurella starts at left back — the Chelsea signing who joined Real Madrid this summer is making his first appearance in a World Cup quarter-final, directly facing Belgium’s right side where Castagne will push forward. His defensive awareness against Doku’s direct running will be one of the evening’s most important individual battles.

Rodri — considered the best defensive midfielder in world football — anchors the double pivot alongside Fabián Ruiz. His ability to intercept, control tempo and protect the back four gives Spain the defensive foundation from which Yamal, Olmo and Baena can attack without fear.

Dani Olmo through the centre — rather than Pedri — gives Spain a different kind of central creativity. More direct than Pedri, more willing to run in behind, Olmo gives Belgium’s defensive block a specific problem that Tielemans and Raskin must track throughout.

And then Yamal. Starting on the right side of Spain’s attacking three — cutting inside onto his left foot, driving at De Cuyper, finding combinations with Oyarzabal and Olmo in the half-spaces. The same player who created the goal that ended Ronaldo’s World Cup in the 90+1st minute. The same player born on the day of Ronaldo’s first heartbreak. Tonight he plays his most important match yet.

BELGIUM CONFIRMED LINEUP — 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (#1)

Defence (back four):
Maxim De Cuyper (#5) — left back
Brandon Mechele (#4) — centre back
Nathan Ngoy (#25) — centre back
Timothy Castagne (#21) — right back

Note: Ngoy starts despite his red card against Iran — he has served his suspension and returns to the back line in place of Theate who drops to the bench.

Double Pivot:
Youri Tielemans (#8)
Nicolas Raskin (#23)

Attacking Three:
Leandro Trossard (#10) — left
Kevin De Bruyne (#7) — centre
Jeremy Doku (#11) — right

Striker:
Charles De Ketelaere (#17)

Manager: Rudi Garcia

Key tactical note: Tielemans starts again. The man who scored Belgium’s 89th minute equaliser and 120+5 winning penalty against Senegal in the Round of 32, the heartbeat of Belgium’s greatest World Cup comeback — starts in the quarter-final against Spain. His combination with Raskin in the double pivot gives Belgium the defensive protection and the forward-driving energy from midfield that has made him this tournament’s most underrated performer.

Lukaku is on the bench. The striker who scored against Senegal to start the comeback is not starting — a decision from Rudi Garcia that suggests De Ketelaere’s movement and combination play is preferred against Spain’s specific defensive organisation. Lukaku’s physical presence remains available as an option to change the match in the second half if needed.

Doku on Belgium’s right side against Cucurella’s left back position is the most dangerous matchup in the entire Belgium attack. When Doku is at 100% and given space to run in behind, he is one of the most electrifying attackers in European football. Cucurella, arriving from Chelsea with the defensive awareness built in the Premier League, will have worked specifically on this matchup in training.

De Bruyne through the centre. His final act. His last major international competitive match, almost certainly. Six Premier League titles. The Champions League. Four PFA awards. And tonight, a World Cup quarter-final against the generation that is beginning where his is ending. Everything he has done in his career has led to matches like this one.

THE TACTICAL MIRROR — WHY FORMATION IS IRRELEVANT TONIGHT

Both teams playing 4-2-3-1 creates a match where the formations cancel each other out and the individual battles decide everything. There is no tactical asymmetry to exploit. No mismatch of shape or system that one manager can use to unbalance the other.

What matters is the quality of the players executing the same structure. And the quality comparison is genuinely even — which is why this is the hardest match on the entire quarter-final bracket to predict.

Spain have the better goalkeeper — Simón has been consistent throughout. Belgium have the better goalkeeper — Courtois is one of the world’s best. Spain have the better midfielder in the double pivot — Rodri is the best in the world. Belgium have the more experienced midfielder in the double pivot — Tielemans has scored the most important goals.

The difference — if there is one — will come from the individual battle on Spain’s right side and Belgium’s left side. Yamal vs De Cuyper. If Yamal gets space and time to cut inside, Spain’s combination play in the central areas opens up in ways that Belgium cannot contain. If De Cuyper can stay tight to Yamal without being exposed in behind by Olmo’s runs, Belgium’s defensive organisation can match Spain’s technical quality.

Yamal vs De Cuyper. The most important individual battle of the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.

FIVE KEY BATTLES TO WATCH TONIGHT

1. Lamine Yamal vs Maxim De Cuyper
Spain’s most dangerous player against Belgium’s left back. Yamal cuts inside constantly — De Cuyper must track his movement without losing his defensive position. The match within the match.

2. Kevin De Bruyne vs Rodri
The greatest attacking midfielder of his generation against the greatest defensive midfielder in world football. Both in the centre of the pitch. Neither will dominate completely. The match could be decided by which one produces a single decisive moment.

3. Jeremy Doku vs Marc Cucurella
Belgium’s most direct wide attacker against Spain’s new left back making his major tournament debut. If Doku finds the space to run at Cucurella, Belgium’s most dangerous counter-attacking route opens. If Cucurella stays disciplined, Belgium’s threat from the right diminishes significantly.

4. Tielemans vs Fabián Ruiz
The tournament’s most in-form midfielder against Spain’s technically gifted second pivot. Tielemans drives forward from deep — Fabián Ruiz must track him without leaving Rodri exposed. An inch of space is all Tielemans needs to find De Ketelaere or De Bruyne.

5. Courtois vs Oyarzabal
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored twice at this tournament — both goals in pressure situations that required composure in front of goal. Courtois is the goalkeeper who stops exactly those kinds of composed finishes. Their individual contest could decide the match if it comes to a single clear chance in a tight second half.

THE BROADER PICTURE — WINNER FACES FRANCE

The winner of Spain vs Belgium faces France in the semi-final on Tuesday July 14. France — who beat Morocco 2-0 yesterday through Mbappé and Dembélé — are in the semi-finals for the third consecutive tournament.

A Spain vs France semi-final would be the match the tournament has been building toward. Yamal against Mbappé. The 18-year-old against the 26-year-old. The player born the day of Ronaldo’s first heartbreak against the player who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup. In the semi-final of a World Cup. That is the match football has been dreaming about.

A Belgium vs France semi-final would be different — the emotional comeback team against the tournament’s most ruthlessly efficient side. De Bruyne vs Mbappé. Tielemans vs Tchouaméni. Two nations that have defined European football across different generations meeting in the semi-final of a home World Cup.

Either way, the winner tonight faces France on Tuesday. The stakes could not be higher.

PREDICTION

Spain to win narrowly. Yamal’s quality in the specific position he occupies — cutting inside from the right in the space between De Cuyper and the Belgian central midfield — is the individual difference that Spain have and Belgium cannot fully replicate.

Rodri’s control of the central areas will limit De Bruyne’s ability to operate freely in the half-spaces Belgium need him to find. Without De Bruyne at his absolute best, Belgium’s attacking threat depends on Doku’s directness and Tielemans’s forward runs from deep.

Spain’s technical quality, built across years of LaLiga development and refined through the Euro 2024 triumph, suits exactly the kind of tight, tactical, low-chance-count quarter-final that 4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1 produces. When one moment decides the match, they have Yamal.

Prediction: Spain 1-0 Belgium — Yamal assists, Oyarzabal scores in the second half

Need To Know

What is Spain’s confirmed lineup vs Belgium?
Spain confirmed XI: Unai Simón (GK); Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella (defence); Rodri, Fabián Ruiz (midfield); Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álvaro Baena (attacking three); Mikel Oyarzabal (striker). Formation: 4-2-3-1.

What is Belgium’s confirmed lineup vs Spain?
Belgium confirmed XI: Thibaut Courtois (GK); Maxim De Cuyper, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Timothy Castagne (defence); Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin (midfield); Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku (attacking three); Charles De Ketelaere (striker). Formation: 4-2-3-1.

Is Lukaku starting for Belgium against Spain?
No — Romelu Lukaku is on the bench for Belgium’s quarter-final against Spain. Charles De Ketelaere starts as the striker in Belgium’s 4-2-3-1 system.

How can I watch Spain vs Belgium for free?
In the USA: Tubi streams it completely FREE — no subscription needed. Also on Fox with cable or antenna. In the UK: ITV1 and ITVX, free to air. In Spain: RTVE, free to air. In Belgium: VRT and RTBF, free to air.

Who is the key player for Spain vs Belgium?
Lamine Yamal — Spain’s 18-year-old right-sided attacker — is the key individual battle of the match. His ability to cut inside from the right and find combinations in central areas is Spain’s primary attacking weapon.

Is this Kevin De Bruyne’s last World Cup match?
Kevin De Bruyne is 34 years old and has indicated this is his final major international tournament. If Belgium lose tonight, Spain vs Belgium would be De Bruyne’s final competitive appearance at a World Cup.

Who does the winner of Spain vs Belgium play?
The winner of Spain vs Belgium faces France in the World Cup 2026 semi-final on Tuesday July 14 at 10pm local time.

What time is Spain vs Belgium?
Spain vs Belgium kicks off at 10pm local time tonight — Thursday July 10, 2026.

Conclusion

Spain vs Belgium. 10pm tonight. Yamal vs De Bruyne. The future against the final chapter.

Both teams in 4-2-3-1. Same formation. Different generations. Yamal cutting inside from Spain’s right. De Bruyne finding pockets through Belgium’s centre. Tielemans driving forward with the specific confidence of a man who has already scored two of this tournament’s most important goals. Rodri protecting Spain’s back line with the quiet authority of the best defensive midfielder in the world.

The winner faces France on Tuesday. A possible Yamal vs Mbappé semi-final in one direction. A possible De Bruyne vs Mbappé final chapter in another.

But first — tonight. The quarter-final that has everything.

Free on Tubi. Free on Fox. Free on ITV1. 10pm.

Watch it.

Read next: Spain vs Belgium — Full Time Result and Match Report — World Cup 2026

Related: France 2-0 Morocco — France Reach Third Consecutive World Cup Semi-Final
Related: Spain World Cup 2026 Schedule — La Roja Complete Campaign Guide
Related: Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule — Golden Generation’s Final Dance
Related: Belgium 3-2 Senegal AET — The Comeback That Defined Their Tournament

Spain or Belgium tonight — and do you want Yamal vs Mbappe or De Bruyne vs Mbappe in the semi-final? Tell us in the comments below

USA vs Belgium Lineup Confirmed: Pulisic and Balogun Face De Bruyne and Tielemans — The Round of 16 Match That Has Everything

July 6, 2026 by Hemim Sk

USA vs Belgium possible lineups for World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Pulisic, Balogun and Freese start for USA. De Bruyne, Tielemans and Courtois lead Belgium. USA beat Belgium 5-2 in March. Belgium came back from 0-2 vs Senegal. Everything you need before tonight’s biggest match.

Published: July 7, 2026 | Category: FIFA World Cup 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

USA vs Belgium lineup: confirmed. And everything about this match — the history, the context, the players, the stakes — makes it the most anticipated Round of 16 fixture of the entire 2026 World Cup.

Four months ago, in March 2026, the United States beat Belgium 5-2 in an international friendly. Belgium’s golden generation — De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois — were outrun, outpressed and outscored by a USMNT side that is younger, faster and built for exactly the kind of high-tempo, direct football that ageing European squads find hardest to handle.

Three weeks ago in Seattle, Belgium came back from 0-2 down with four minutes remaining to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the most extraordinary comeback of the entire tournament. Tielemans scored the equaliser in the 89th minute. Tielemans scored the winning penalty in the 120+5th minute. An entire golden generation finding something none of their critics believed they still had.

Tonight those two stories collide. Lumen Field in Seattle — the same stadium where Belgium beat Senegal in that impossible comeback — hosts the match that determines which of them goes to the quarter-finals.

USA vs Belgium. Round of 16. The co-host nation against the golden generation. Everything on the line.

USA vs Belgium — Match Facts

Date: Monday July 7, 2026
Kickoff: 3am local Seattle time — check your timezone
Venue: Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington
Round of 16 — World Cup 2026
TV USA: Fox / FREE on Tubi / Telemundo (Spanish)
TV UK: BBC One / BBC iPlayer — free
TV Belgium: VRT / RTBF — free to air

How to Watch USA vs Belgium FREE

FREE in the USA:
Tubi — completely FREE, no subscription needed. Download the Tubi app or go to tubi.tv on any device right now. The fastest and easiest free option for American fans tonight.
Fox — free with cable subscription or over-the-air HD antenna.
Telemundo — Spanish language, free with cable or antenna.

FREE in the UK:
BBC One and BBC iPlayer — free to air. No subscription required. Available on every device at bbc.co.uk/iplayer.

FREE in Belgium:
VRT — Dutch language, free to air, Belgium’s public broadcaster.
RTBF — French language, free to air.
Both available to stream online via their respective apps.

FREE Worldwide:
FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com — free streaming where local rights allow.

Paid options: Fubo (USA — all 104 matches), DAZN (Canada)

USA POSSIBLE LINEUP — 4-3-3

Source: Olympics.com / US Soccer

Goalkeeper: Matt Freese (#24)
— Freese keeps his place after his solid performance against Bosnia.
Matt Turner remains on the bench.

Defence (back four):
Antonee Robinson (#5) — left back
Tim Ream (#13) — centre back, captain
Chris Richards (#3) — centre back
Alex Freeman (#16) — right back

Midfield (three):
Malik Tillman (#17)
Tyler Adams (#4)
Weston McKennie (#8)

Attack (three):
Christian Pulisic (#10)
Folarin Balogun (#20)
Sergiño Dest (#2)

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

Key notes: Freese continues in goal over the more experienced Turner — a decision that has so far been vindicated by his composure under pressure against Bosnia. Tim Ream’s captaincy and reading of the game at 37 is the quiet organisational genius behind everything USA do defensively. The attacking trio of Pulisic, Balogun and Dest gives Belgium’s back line a specific problem — pace on all three sides of the attack, directness in the centre through Balogun and creativity from Pulisic’s inside movement.

Tyler Adams — the former Leeds United and RB Leipzig midfielder — is the player who makes this entire USA system function. His ability to win the ball, cover ground and transition from defence to attack in one movement is the foundation on which Pochettino has built everything. Against Belgium’s creative midfield, Adams’s defensive work rate will be tested more severely than in any previous match at this tournament.

BELGIUM POSSIBLE LINEUP — 4-2-3-1

Source: Olympics.com

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (#1)
— The Real Madrid goalkeeper, considered one of the best in the world, starts. His command of the penalty area and distribution gives Belgium a technical advantage at the back that the USA’s Matt Freese cannot quite match on reputation alone.

Defence (back four):
Maxim De Cuyper (#5) — left back
Arthur Theate (#3) — centre back
Brandon Mechele (#4) — centre back
Timothy Castagne (#21) — right back

Midfield (double pivot):
Hans Vanaken (#20)
Youri Tielemans (#8)

Attacking three:
Jeremy Doku (#11) — left
Kevin De Bruyne (#7) — central attacking mid
Leandro Trossard (#10) — right

Striker:
Charles De Ketelaere (#17)

Manager: Rudi Garcia

Key notes: Tielemans starts — of course he does. The man who scored the equaliser against Senegal in the 89th minute and the winning penalty in the 120+5th is Belgium’s most in-form player at this tournament. His physical energy, his goalscoring instinct from midfield and the specific confidence of a player who has already delivered two of the biggest goals of the entire Round of 32 makes him Belgium’s most dangerous figure tonight.

Kevin De Bruyne at 34 is making what is almost certainly his final appearance at a World Cup. The greatest central midfielder of his generation — Champions League winner, multiple-time PFA Players’ Player of the Year — has one more knockout match to show the world exactly why his name will be spoken in the same breath as the sport’s all-time greats for the next fifty years. Against Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, De Bruyne in space is Belgium’s most dangerous possible scenario.

Jeremy Doku on the left — still returning to full fitness after his illness in the group stage — is the most electrifying one-on-one attacker in this Belgium squad. If Doku is at 100% tonight, Alex Freeman and the USA’s right defensive side face the hardest 90 minutes of their tournament.

The Three Key Battles Tonight

Christian Pulisic vs Youri Tielemans

The captain of the USA against the man who ended Senegal’s World Cup dream twice in four minutes. Pulisic’s role tonight is not purely about scoring or assisting — it is about controlling the tempo from the right side, drawing defenders and creating the combinations that allow Balogun to find space centrally. Tielemans, playing as the more advanced of Belgium’s double pivot, will be specifically tasked with pressing Pulisic early and often.

Their battle in the central-right areas of the pitch is the match within the match — whichever player controls that specific space will likely determine which team controls the game.

Folarin Balogun vs Theate and Mechele

Balogun’s pace, movement and clinical finishing has been the story of the USA’s tournament — two goals against Paraguay in the group stage, consistent threat in every match since. Theate and Mechele at centre-back for Belgium are experienced, physical and organised. But Balogun does not need much space. He needs one moment of separation and one touch of composure. As every Paraguay defender learned in the 4-1 group stage defeat, he has both.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Tyler Adams

The most technically fascinating battle of the match. De Bruyne’s ability to find passes that others cannot see, his set-piece delivery and his movement between Belgium’s attacking lines means Adams must track him relentlessly without being dragged out of position. Too close to De Bruyne and Adams leaves space behind him for Doku and Trossard. Too deep and De Bruyne finds the pockets he needs to control the match.

Adams is one of the best defensive midfielders at this tournament. De Bruyne is one of the best creative midfielders to have ever played the sport. Tonight they share a pitch in the Round of 16 of a home World Cup.

The Context — Why This Match Is Different

The USA beat Belgium 5-2 in March. That result is relevant and it is not relevant simultaneously. Friendly football in March exists in a completely different psychological universe from a World Cup Round of 16 in July. Belgium’s players know that scoreline. They will have been thinking about it since the bracket confirmed this fixture. Whether it motivates them or provides a specific kind of psychological fuel — the kind of anger that produces extraordinary performances — is something only they can answer.

Belgium arrived at this tournament being written off. Their golden generation was finished, the critics said. Too old. Too slow. Past their best. Then they came back from 0-2 in the 85th minute against Senegal and won in the 120+5th. The most dramatic single match of the entire Round of 32. The kind of result that does not simply give a team confidence — it gives them a specific belief in their own impossibility that rational analysis cannot account for.

The USA, meanwhile, are playing in front of their home crowd, at the venue where Belgium beat Senegal, with the full weight of a nation’s football expectations behind them. Pochettino has built something real with this squad — the 4-1 win over Paraguay, the clean sheet against Bosnia, the sustained collective identity of a team that presses, runs and creates together rather than depending on individual moments.

Both teams have earned their place in this Round of 16. Both teams have a specific story to continue. Only one of them can.

Prediction

This is the hardest Round of 16 match to predict on the entire bracket. The USA’s youth, pace and home advantage against Belgium’s experience, individual quality and the specific momentum of the Senegal comeback.

The USA’s pressing system, at its best, was exactly what Belgium struggled with in March. If Pochettino can replicate that intensity from the first whistle — pressing De Bruyne into mistakes, limiting Doku’s space with early defensive awareness and using Balogun’s pace to punish Belgium’s high defensive line on the counter — the USA have every chance.

But De Bruyne at a World Cup, in what may be his last knockout match, with Tielemans’s recent form and Courtois’s goalkeeping quality behind them — Belgium are not here simply to be the team the home nation beats on their way to the quarter-finals.

Prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium (after extra time)

Balogun to score. De Bruyne to produce a moment of pure quality that equalises. The match to go to extra time after a tense second half. USA to find the winner through a set piece — Tim Ream’s reading of the game from a corner or a Pulisic free kick.

But Belgium winning on penalties is equally possible. And if it comes to a shootout, Courtois against the USA’s penalty takers is not a situation that automatically favours the home side.

Need To Know

What is the USA possible lineup vs Belgium?
USA possible XI: Matt Freese (GK); Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream (Captain), Chris Richards, Alex Freeman (defence); Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie (midfield); Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest (attack). Formation: 4-3-3. Manager: Mauricio Pochettino.

What is Belgium’s possible lineup vs USA?
Belgium possible XI: Thibaut Courtois (GK); Maxim De Cuyper, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele, Timothy Castagne (defence); Hans Vanaken, Youri Tielemans (midfield); Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard (attacking three); Charles De Ketelaere (striker). Formation: 4-2-3-1. Manager: Rudi Garcia.

Did USA beat Belgium before World Cup 2026?
Yes — the United States beat Belgium 5-2 in an international friendly in March 2026, four months before this Round of 16 meeting at Lumen Field in Seattle.

How can I watch USA vs Belgium for free?
In the USA: Tubi streams it completely FREE — no subscription needed. Also free on Fox with cable or antenna. In the UK: BBC One and BBC iPlayer, free to air. In Belgium: VRT and RTBF, free to air.

Is this Kevin De Bruyne’s last World Cup match?
Kevin De Bruyne is 34 years old and has indicated this is his final major tournament. USA vs Belgium in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle is almost certainly one of the last major international matches of his career.

Who is Youri Tielemans in Belgium’s lineup?
Youri Tielemans is the Aston Villa midfielder who scored Belgium’s equaliser in the 89th minute AND the winning penalty in the 120+5th minute against Senegal in the Round of 32 — the two goals that completed the most dramatic comeback of World Cup 2026. He starts tonight against the USA.

What time is USA vs Belgium?
USA vs Belgium kicks off at 3am local Seattle time. Check your local timezone. The match is at Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium) in Seattle, Washington.

Who does the winner of USA vs Belgium play in the quarter-finals?
The winner of USA vs Belgium faces either Spain or the winner from the other side of the bracket in the quarter-finals, based on current bracket positioning.

Conclusion

USA vs Belgium. Lumen Field. The same stadium where Belgium beat Senegal. The same pitch where Tielemans scored in the 89th minute and the 120+5th. The same city where the USA have played their home games throughout this tournament and where 60,000 fans will give Pulisic, Balogun and Pochettino’s side the kind of support that changes the outcome of close matches.

Free on Tubi. Free on Fox. Free on BBC iPlayer.

De Bruyne vs Adams. Balogun vs Mechele and Theate. Pulisic vs Tielemans. Courtois vs Freese. The golden generation’s last dance vs the co-host nation’s biggest night.

This is the match. Watch it.

Read next: USA vs Belgium — Full Time Result and Match Report — World Cup 2026

Related: Belgium 3-2 Senegal AET — The Greatest Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
Related: USA 3-0 Bosnia — USMNT’s Round of 32 Match Report
Related: World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final Schedule — Every Match and How to Watch Free

USA or Belgium — who advances to the quarter-finals tonight, and does De Bruyne produce the defining moment of his final World Cup match? Tell us in the comments below

Belgium vs Senegal Result: Belgium 3-2 Senegal AET — Down Two Goals With Four Minutes Left, the Golden Generation Did the Impossible

July 1, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Belgium vs Senegal final score was Belgium 3-2 Senegal after extra time. Down 2-0 with four minutes left, Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, Tielemans equalised in the 89th, then Tielemans converted a penalty in the 120+5th minute to complete the most stunning comeback of World Cup 2026.

Published: July 2, 2026 | Category: FIFA World Cup 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

Belgium vs Senegal result: Belgium 3-2 Senegal after extra time.

There are moments in football that happen so fast, so improbably, so completely against the weight of everything that came before them, that the only honest response is to sit in silence for a moment and let it register.

Belgium were losing 0-2 with four minutes remaining in normal time. Habib Diarra had scored for Senegal in the 24th minute. Ismaila Sarr had added a second in the 51st. For 85 minutes, Senegal’s organisation, discipline and attacking quality had been the better team. The Lions of Teranga — Africa Cup of Nations champions, a squad built for exactly this kind of knockout occasion — were four minutes away from the Round of 16.

Then Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute. Belgium 1-2 Senegal.

Then Youri Tielemans scored in the 89th minute. Belgium 2-2 Senegal. Lumen Field in Seattle — the same venue that had hosted Belgium’s goalless draw with Egypt in the group stage — erupted.

Then Youri Tielemans converted a penalty in the 120th minute plus five — the very last action of extra time — to win the match 3-2.

Belgium are through to the Round of 16. Senegal are going home. And what happened in the final four minutes of normal time in Seattle on July 1 will be replayed, discussed and remembered for as long as people talk about this World Cup.

Belgium vs Senegal — Match Facts

Final Score: Belgium 3-2 Senegal (after extra time)
Date: Tuesday July 1, 2026
Venue: Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington
Round of 32 — World Cup 2026

Goals:
Senegal — H. Diarra 24′
Senegal — I. Sarr 51′
Belgium — R. Lukaku 86′
Belgium — Y. Tielemans 89′
Belgium — Y. Tielemans 120+5′ (Penalty)

Man of the Match: Youri Tielemans (one goal, one penalty, the heartbeat of the comeback)

Belgium advance to Round of 16.
Senegal are eliminated from World Cup 2026.

How It Happened — Every Minute of the Comeback

The first 85 minutes of this match were Senegal’s. From the moment Diarra put them ahead in the 24th minute — a powerful, composed finish that rewarded their energetic early pressing — the Lions of Teranga controlled the match’s rhythm and tempo. Ismaila Sarr’s 51st minute goal was almost inevitable — a moment of quality from a player who has been Senegal’s best wide threat throughout the tournament.

For Belgium, the frustration was mounting visibly. Jeremy Doku, still not fully fit after his illness in the group stage, was introduced. Kevin De Bruyne drove forward repeatedly but found Senegal’s defensive block impossible to penetrate consistently. Romelu Lukaku — introduced as a substitute specifically to change the match — worked, held the ball, brought others in, but could not find the space a player of his physical quality demands.

Then came four minutes that will define Belgium’s 2026 World Cup story forever.

86′ — GOAL BELGIUM — ROMELU LUKAKU

With four minutes of normal time remaining, Lukaku scored. It is still not entirely clear whether even Belgium believed what was about to happen when the ball hit the net. The goal itself was quintessential Lukaku — physical presence in the penalty area, one touch to create space, powerful low finish. Senegal’s players looked at each other. 1-2. Four minutes left. Could it?

87′, 88′ — Senegal tried to manage the clock. Belgium pressed. Lumen Field created a noise that people inside the stadium have since described as the loudest 120 seconds they have ever experienced at any sporting event.

89′ — GOAL BELGIUM — YOURI TIELEMANS

From a corner routine, Tielemans arrived at the back post with perfect timing and drove a right-footed finish across the goalkeeper. The net moved. The scoreboard read 2-2.

Pandemonium. Absolute pandemonium. Belgium players sprinting across the pitch. Tielemans with his arms spread. Lukaku sliding on his knees. De Bruyne — who had played the full 90 minutes — collapsed to the ground in pure disbelief.

Senegal’s players stood with their hands on their heads. Two goals ahead with four minutes left. Now level.

Extra time followed. An exhausted, emotionally spent 30 minutes where both sides created and missed chances. Sadio Mané — who had been quiet throughout — had Senegal’s best extra time opportunity but Thibaut Courtois saved with the kind of composure that defines a world-class goalkeeper.

120+5′ — PENALTY BELGIUM — YOURI TIELEMANS

In the absolute last action of extra time, Belgium won a penalty. The stadium held its breath. Tielemans — who had already scored the equaliser, who was carrying the emotional weight of the entire comeback on his shoulders — placed the ball on the spot.

He drove it low to the right. Edouard Mendy went the wrong way. The net moved for the third time.

Belgium 3-2 Senegal. After extra time. After being two goals down with four minutes left. After a comeback that nobody on earth predicted when the clock showed 85 minutes.

Match Analysis — What This Means

Belgium’s golden generation has been discussing retirement from international football for three years. Kevin De Bruyne, at 34, has said repeatedly this is his last major tournament. Romelu Lukaku, at 32, plays with the weight of a career that has achieved almost everything at club level but never quite delivered the sustained World Cup campaign his talent deserved. Thibaut Courtois has committed to 2026 as his final international tournament.

Tonight, in Seattle, they produced the moment that crystallises what sporting comebacks actually are — not tactical systems or physical fitness or formation adjustments. They are will. The absolute refusal, even when two goals down and four minutes from elimination, to stop believing something is still possible.

Lukaku’s goal woke that belief. Tielemans’s equaliser confirmed it. And Tielemans’s penalty — struck with the composure of a player who has been waiting 34 years to have a moment like this — delivered it.

De Bruyne, speaking after the final whistle, was asked whether he thought Belgium were through when they went 0-2 down. “Honestly? No,” he said. “But we kept going because what else do you do?”

What else do you do. That is the Belgium comeback in one line.

Senegal’s Heartbreak

Senegal deserve recognition in this report. They were the better team for 85 minutes. Diarra’s goal was excellent. Sarr’s second was the kind of moment that confirms his status as one of Africa’s best attackers. Their defensive organisation — built around Kalidou Koulibaly’s commanding presence — was solid until the final four minutes, when the momentum of Belgium’s pressure simply overwhelmed them.

Football is cruel to the team that loses a match like this. Being 2-0 up in the 85th minute and losing 2-3 after extra time is one of the most painful possible outcomes in football. Senegal’s players will carry this for a long time. Their World Cup campaign — a 3-1 defeat to France in the group stage, followed by the group stage 5-0 win over ten-man Iraq, followed by tonight — ends here.

The Africa Cup of Nations champions go home from their first round of 32 appearance having led the match for 85 minutes and lost it in the last four.

Belgium in the Round of 16

Belgium face USA next — who play Bosnia-Herzegovina in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara later tonight. As social media pointed out almost immediately after the final whistle, the USA beat Belgium 5-2 in a friendly in March 2026. The prospect of Belgium vs USA in the Round of 16, carrying the emotional momentum of this comeback, is one of the most anticipated possible fixtures of the knockout stage.

As covered in our Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule, Belgium’s Round of 16 match will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle — the same venue where they just completed their greatest ever World Cup comeback. Same pitch. Different match. Different stakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Belgium vs Senegal score at World Cup 2026?
Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Belgium were 0-2 down with four minutes remaining before Lukaku (86′), Tielemans (89′) and Tielemans’ penalty (120+5′) completed a historic comeback.

Who scored for Belgium vs Senegal?
Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute. Youri Tielemans scored in the 89th minute and then converted the winning penalty in the 120+5th minute of extra time.

Who scored for Senegal vs Belgium?
Habib Diarra scored in the 24th minute and Ismaila Sarr scored in the 51st minute for Senegal, giving them a 2-0 lead that held until the 86th minute.

Was Belgium really 2-0 down against Senegal?
Yes — Belgium were losing 0-2 with four minutes of normal time remaining before their comeback. They scored in the 86th and 89th minutes to level, then won the penalty shootout in the 120+5th minute of extra time.

Who does Belgium play in the Round of 16?
Belgium play the winner of USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 16, which is likely to be the USA. The match will take place at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Is this Belgium’s greatest World Cup comeback?
Widely considered so — Belgium have never previously come back from a two-goal deficit in the final four minutes of a World Cup knockout match to win. This is the defining moment of their golden generation’s World Cup career.

Conclusion

Belgium vs Senegal result: Belgium 3-2 Senegal after extra time. Down two goals with four minutes left. Lukaku. Tielemans. Tielemans again from the penalty spot.

The golden generation of Belgian football — the players who were supposed to have had their last chance at a major tournament two years ago, who have been saying goodbye for so long that the sport almost stopped listening — delivered the moment that nobody expected on the night that mattered most.

Decades from now, people who were in Lumen Field on July 1, 2026 will tell their children about those four minutes. That is what football is for.

Read next: USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Lineup and Preview — World Cup 2026 Round of 32

Related: Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule — Red Devils Complete Campaign
Related: Senegal World Cup 2026 Schedule — Lions of Teranga Full Guide
Related: World Cup 2026 Round of 32 — All Results and Remaining Fixtures

Is Belgium’s comeback from 0-2 down the greatest moment of World Cup 2026 so far — and can they go all the way from here? Tell us in the comments below

Belgium vs Iran Result: Belgium 0-0 Iran — Beiranvand’s Heroics Send Iran Top of the Group Amid Travel Chaos

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Belgium vs Iran final score was Belgium 0-0 Iran at the World Cup 2026. Nathan Ngoy was sent off for Belgium as Alireza Beiranvand’s saves earned Iran a point that puts them top of Group G amid major travel and visa disruption.

Published: June 22, 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

Belgium vs Iran result: Belgium 0-0 Iran.

While the football world focuses on the scoreline, the more remarkable story sits underneath it. Iran have arrived at this World Cup facing travel restrictions and visa complications tied directly to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East — disruption that has affected their preparation in ways few other squads at this tournament have had to navigate. Tonight, with all of that as a backdrop, they held a Belgian side reduced to ten men to a goalless draw at Los Angeles Stadium and climbed to the top of Group G.

Belgium had 23 shots. Belgium had an expected goals value of 1.8. Belgium could not find a single goal. Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was the difference, producing a string of saves that effectively dictated the entire outcome of the match.

Belgium 0-0 Iran. A result that tells two very different stories depending on which side of the pitch you were standing on.

Belgium vs Iran — Final Score and Match Facts

Final Score: Belgium 0-0 Iran
Date: Sunday June 21, 2026
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
Group: G

Final Score: Belgium 0-0 Iran
Sending off: N. Ngoy (Belgium) — 67th minute, straight red card

Group G Standings After This Match:
1. Iran — 2 points (D 0-0 Belgium, D 2-2 New Zealand)
2. Belgium — TBD (also drawn both matches)
3/4. Egypt and New Zealand — TBD (playing same day)

Note: Iran currently sit top of Group G ahead of the New Zealand vs Egypt fixture.

How the Match Unfolded

Belgium started the match already missing one of their most important attacking weapons. Jeremy Doku, their most dangerous and unpredictable forward, was ruled out through illness — a significant blow that immediately reduced Rudi Garcia’s attacking options. Inside the first four minutes, Romelu Lukaku was shown an early yellow card by Argentine referee Dario Herrera, an early sign of the frustration that would define Belgium’s evening.

Belgium dominated the ball from the opening whistle. Leandro Trossard caused early problems down the left, setting up a chance for Maxim De Cuyper that was eventually cleared. Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans controlled tempo through the middle for long spells, but Iran’s defensive shape — organised, disciplined and committed to absorbing pressure before striking on the break — gave Belgium very little space in behind.

Iran’s best moment of the first half arrived when Mehdi Taremi appeared to have given them the lead, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for a narrow offside — a let-off Belgium badly needed and a clear signal that Iran were not simply there to defend.

Half time: Belgium 0-0 Iran.

The Second Half — Beiranvand Takes Over

The second half turned into a goalkeeping exhibition from Alireza Beiranvand. In the 53rd minute he reacted instinctively to beat away a dangerous Taremi volley at the other end, before producing what may have been the save of the match in the 59th minute — somehow keeping out a De Cuyper effort from close range when a goal looked almost certain.

67′ — RED CARD BELGIUM — NATHAN NGOY

The pivotal moment of the match arrived in the 67th minute. Nathan Ngoy miscontrolled a routine back-pass under pressure from Taremi, and with no other way to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity, hauled the Iranian striker down just outside the box. Referee Dario Herrera had no hesitation in showing a straight red card. Belgium were down to ten men, with their best attacking outlet already missing from the squad entirely.

Belgium brought on Romelu Lukaku to try to force a breakthrough, and almost immediately created problems — but Beiranvand continued to deny everything sent his way. Alexis Saelemaekers volleyed a deep De Bruyne corner just the wrong side of the post in the 49th minute, and as the match wore on, Belgium’s chances became increasingly desperate without the cutting edge Doku would have provided.

Full time: Belgium 0-0 Iran.

Match Analysis — A Point That Means Completely Different Things

For Belgium, this is a deeply frustrating result. As covered in our Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule, Rudi Garcia’s side have now drawn both of their opening Group G matches, and the performance raised real concerns about their attacking sharpness — 23 shots and an xG of 1.8 should produce more than zero goals against any opponent. Lukaku, introduced as what was described post-match as a “super-sub” option, was unable to make the same kind of instant impact he has provided in previous matches this tournament, and pundits were critical of his overall lack of sharpness throughout. Belgium’s golden generation — De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois, all in the twilight of their international careers — are running out of time to deliver the major tournament run this squad has long promised.

For Iran, the context around this result matters enormously. As covered in our Iran World Cup 2026 Schedule, this is a squad that has faced genuine off-field disruption throughout their World Cup preparation — travel restrictions and visa complications connected to the wider conflict in the Middle East have affected their build-up in ways most competing nations simply have not had to deal with. Despite all of that, Iran have now taken two points from their opening two matches — a 2-2 draw with New Zealand followed by tonight’s result against a Belgian side many had expected to comfortably beat them — and currently sit top of Group G.

Sky Sports’ assessment after the match captured it well: Iran “look like a team galvanised” despite everything happening around them. Beiranvand’s performance tonight was not simply a good goalkeeping display — it was the kind of statement that gives an entire nation something to rally behind during a genuinely difficult period.

What This Means for Group G

With New Zealand facing Egypt later the same day, Group G’s final picture from Matchday 2 was still being completed as this match finished — but Iran’s position at the top, on merit, after the disruption they have navigated, is one of the more remarkable subplots of the entire group stage so far.

What Happens Next in Group G

Belgium vs New Zealand or Egypt — final group match, date TBC
Belgium need a win to guarantee their qualification hopes, and as covered in our Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule, they may have to do it without Ngoy due to suspension.

Iran’s final group match — date TBC
As covered in our Iran World Cup 2026 Schedule, a positive result in their final match would put Iran in a very strong position to reach the Round of 32 for the first time since 2018.

Need To Know

What was the Belgium vs Iran final score?
Belgium vs Iran final score was Belgium 0-0 Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026, played at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on June 21.

Who was sent off in Belgium vs Iran?
Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red card for Belgium in the 67th minute for fouling Mehdi Taremi and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, after miscontrolling a back-pass under pressure.

Why is Iran’s World Cup campaign unusual this year?
Iran have faced significant travel restrictions and visa complications during their 2026 World Cup preparation, connected to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, making their on-field results even more notable given the circumstances.

Is Iran top of Group G at World Cup 2026?
Yes — after drawing both of their opening matches (2-2 with New Zealand and 0-0 with Belgium), Iran currently sit top of Group G ahead of the New Zealand vs Egypt fixture.

Who was Belgium vs Iran’s best player?
Alireza Beiranvand, Iran’s goalkeeper, was the standout performer, making several crucial saves including a close-range stop to deny Maxim De Cuyper that preserved Iran’s point.

Did Jeremy Doku play for Belgium against Iran?
No — Jeremy Doku missed the match due to illness, a significant absence given his importance to Belgium’s attacking play.

How many shots did Belgium have against Iran?
Belgium had 23 shots and an expected goals (xG) value of 1.8 against Iran but failed to score, a reflection of their lack of sharpness in the final third.

Conclusion

Belgium vs Iran result: Belgium 0-0 Iran. Ngoy’s red card. Beiranvand’s heroics. A point that leaves Belgium frustrated and Iran, against the odds and against significant off-field adversity, sitting top of their group.

Whatever happens for the rest of this tournament, tonight’s result is a reminder that football scorelines rarely tell the whole story.

Read next: Spain vs Saudi Arabia Result: Yamal Younger Than Messi’s First World Cup Goal — World Cup 2026

Related: Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule — Red Devils Group G Guide

Can Iran hold on to top spot in Group G despite everything working against them off the pitch — and is Belgium’s golden generation running out of time? Tell us in the comments below And don’t Forget to subscribe our newsletter, we don’t charge any penny it’s totally free to do also please join our social media it’s gives us motivation to do more

Lukaku Walks On — Egypt’s Dream Dies in 22 Seconds: Belgium 1-1 Egypt, World Cup 2026

June 15, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Egypt were 46 minutes from a historic first World Cup win. Then Romelu Lukaku arrived. Full match report, goals, stats and Group G table from Belgium vs Egypt at Seattle Stadium, FIFA World Cup 2026.

Published: June 14, 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group G | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington
Belgium 1–1 Egypt
Goals: E. Ashour 20′ (EGY) | M. Hany 66′ OG (BEL)
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle | Attendance: 68,000+

Forty-six minutes. That is how long Egypt stood on the edge of footballing history — a nation preparing to celebrate its first-ever FIFA World Cup victory. Then Romelu Lukaku stepped off the bench, and 22 seconds later, it was over.

World Cup 2026 Injuries Tracker: Every Star Who Could Miss the TournamentNot a Lukaku goal. Not even a Lukaku touch. Just the enormous, unmistakable physical presence of Belgium’s all-time record scorer arriving in the penalty area — and Egypt’s Mohamed Hany panicking, deflecting a Thomas Meunier cross past his own goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir in a moment that will haunt him for years.

Belgium 1–1 Egypt. Lukaku had been on the pitch for less than half a minute.

This was the match that opened FIFA World Cup 2026 at Seattle Stadium — the first World Cup fixture ever played in the Pacific Northwest — and it delivered everything you could ask from a group stage opener. Salah. A 34th birthday assist. A stunning wonder goal. A famous Belgian name arriving like a plot twist. And a result that, ultimately, satisfied no one.

The Backstory: Pharaohs, Red Devils and Historic Context

Egypt appear at their fourth World Cup but carry the burden of a nation that has never won a single group stage match across their three previous tournaments. Never led a match for longer than 29 minutes. Never seen victory. That statistic — brutal and relentless — dominated the pre-match narrative in Seattle.

Belgium arrived ranked considerably higher on paper, but carrying their own demons. A 2022 World Cup campaign that imploded spectacularly — eliminated in the group stage despite having a squad bursting with Champions League winners — had cost manager Roberto Martínez his job. Kevin De Bruyne, now 34, is at his final World Cup, and the Red Devils know the window is closing.

Group G also contains Portugal, making this opener critical for both sides. Drop points and the path to the knockout rounds becomes treacherous.

First Half: Salah’s Birthday Present, Ashour’s Thunderbolt

The Pharaohs Strike First (20′)

Mohamed Salah turned 34 on the day of this match. And on the biggest stage of all — wearing the captain’s armband on his birthday — he reminded the world exactly why he remains one of the finest footballers of his generation.

Collecting the ball in the left channel, Salah weighted a perfectly timed pass through the legs of Thomas Meunier to release Emam Ashour into space. The Al Ahly midfielder didn’t hesitate. One touch to set his body shape, then a clinical, powerful finish into the bottom-left corner past a diving Thibaut Courtois.

Egypt 1–0 Belgium. Seattle Stadium erupted. The neutrals were on their feet.

It was Ashour’s first international goal — and on the grandest occasion of his career. Salah’s assist, meanwhile, made him the second-oldest African player to register a World Cup assist since 1966, behind only Roger Milla against England in 1990 at 38 years old. The King of Egypt had written himself into the tournament’s opening chapter, exactly as he promised.

Belgium Struggle to Respond

Belgium — for all their individual quality — could not find a way through a disciplined, compact Egyptian defensive structure. Kevin De Bruyne probed with his customary vision, Leandro Trossard and Jeremy Doku offered width, but Mostafa Shoubir was barely tested before the break.

Doku missed a gilt-edged opportunity when Charles De Ketelaere found him free on the right — he dragged it wide. A De Bruyne free kick was precise but met by a wall. Belgium went to half-time without a single shot on target, their deficit intact, their fans restless.

Spain vs Cape Verde Result: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde — Vozinha’s Heroics Hand Debutants a Historic Point

Second Half: Twenty-Two Seconds That Changed Everything

Lukaku Enters (65′) — OG Follows (66′)

New Belgium manager must have rehearsed this moment. Lukaku — introduced in the 65th minute — barely had time to find his footing.

Meunier’s cross from the right arrived in the box. Lukaku, his sheer physicality disrupting the Egyptian backline, moved to meet it. Mohamed Hany, caught between the cross and the striker’s presence, could only poke it past his own goalkeeper. Own goal. 1-1.

The goal ends a remarkable statistic — 325 minutes of World Cup football for Belgium without scoring, stretching back to Michy Batshuayi’s effort in the 2022 group stage. Lukaku didn’t even touch it, but Belgium had their equalizer.

Egypt were devastated. They had been on the verge of history.

The Final Twist That Wasn’t

Belgium pushed for a winner Lukaku nearly obliged — a powerful header from Nicolas Raskin’s cross flew inches over the bar. Courtois, at the other end, made a crucial save to deny Egypt the sucker-punch. The Pharaohs, to their immense credit, refused to sit back and absorb pressure after conceding.

The full-time whistle confirmed the draw. Both teams applauded by their fans. Neither left satisfied.

Match Stats

	Belgium 🇧🇪	Egypt 🇪🇬
Goals	1 (Hany OG 66′)	1 (Ashour 20′)
Shots on Target	3	2
First-Half Shots on Target	0	2
Yellow Cards	2 (Castagne, Attia)	1
Key Stat	0 first-half shots on target	Led for 46 minutes

Player of the Match: EMAM ASHOUR 🇪🇬

Group G Table After Matchday 1

	Team	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Belgium 🇧🇪	1	0	1	0	1
2	Egypt 🇪🇬	1	0	1	0	1
3	Portugal 🇵🇹	0	—	—	—	—
4	—	—	—	—	—	—

The Verdict

Belgium needed more. Egypt deserved more. In a group also containing Portugal, dropping points in the opener leaves both sides in a precarious position. For Egypt, the bitter irony is that their finest World Cup display in decades ended without the three points it deserved. For Belgium — and for De Bruyne in particular — the warning is clear: at 34, and likely playing his last World Cup, individual brilliance must translate into results.

Lukaku’s impact was immediate, chaotic and decisive. Even from the bench, even without a touch. Some players change games just by existing.

Next up: Belgium vs Portugal | Egypt vs Group G third opponent

Match played June 15, 2026 at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington. Venue hosted its first-ever FIFA World Cup fixture.

Belgium vs Egypt : Lineup, How to Watch FREE and Full Preview — Mohamed Salah’s World Cup Begins

June 15, 2026 by Hemim Sk

Belgium vs Egypt World Cup 2026 lineup, kickoff time and how to watch free. Mohamed Salah’s final World Cup begins against Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium at Lumen Field Seattle in Group G.

Published: June 15, 2026 | Category: FIFA World Cup 2026 | Author: Hemim SK

The match the Arab world and Mohamed Salah’s millions of fans worldwide have been waiting for arrives this afternoon. Belgium vs Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle — and at the centre of it, at 34 years old, almost certainly playing in his final World Cup, is Mohamed Salah.

Belgium’s golden generation — Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois — against Egypt’s greatest ever player in what could be the most emotionally significant individual storyline of the entire group stage.

3pm ET. Seattle. Group G begins.

Belgium vs Egypt — Match Facts

Date: Monday June 15, 2026
Kickoff: 3pm ET / 12pm local / 8pm BST / 9pm CET
Venue: Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington
Group: G
TV USA: Fox / Telemundo / FREE on Tubi
TV UK: ITV1 / ITVX — free
TV Egypt: ON Time Sports / beIN Sports
TV Belgium: VRT / RTBF — free to air

How to Watch Belgium vs Egypt FREE

FREE in the USA:
Tubi — streams completely FREE, no subscription needed.
Fox — free with cable or HD antenna.

FREE in the UK:
ITV1 and ITVX — free to air at 8pm BST.

FREE in Egypt:
ON Time Sports — free to air coverage of all Egypt matches.

FREE in Belgium:
VRT (Dutch) and RTBF (French) — both free to air.

FREE Worldwide:
FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com.

Paid options: Fubo (USA), beIN Sports (Middle East)

Belgium Predicted Lineup — 4-2-3 -1

Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper)

Defence: 15 T. Meunier 25 N. Ngoy 4 B. Mechele 21 T. Castagne

Midfield: 24 A. Onana 8 Y. Tielemans

Attack: 11. Jeremy Doku, 7K. De Bruyne 10L. Trossard
Striker : 17C. De Ketelaere

Key note: Kevin De Bruyne — at 34, one of the greatest midfielders of his generation — controls Belgium’s attacking play. Thibaut Courtois remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Romelu Lukaku’s physical presence up front gives Belgium a focal point. Their 2-0 win over Croatia in pre-tournament was their most convincing performance in years.

Egypt Predicted Lineup — 4-2-3-1

23 M. Shobeir (goalkeeper)
Defence: 13 A. Fotouh 14 H. Fathy 2 Y. Ibrahim 3 M. Hany

Midfield: 19 M. Attia 17 M. Lasheen

Attack: 11 M. Ziko 8 E. Ashour 10 M. Salah

Striker: 22O. Marmoush

Key note: Mohamed Salah — captain, talisman, Egypt’s all-time leading scorer — leads the attack in what is almost certainly his last World Cup. Their 1-0 win over Russia in pre-tournament showed defensive organisation, with Salah managed carefully off the bench. Today he is expected to start and play a full role.

The Story — Salah’s Final World Cup Begins

As covered in our Egypt World Cup 2026 Schedule, Mohamed Salah’s World Cup history has been defined by circumstance as much as quality. In 2018 he played through the pain of a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League Final. Egypt failed to qualify for 28 years before that. Now, at 34, fully fit and at the peak of his powers after a decade of Premier League excellence, Salah finally gets the World Cup stage his career has deserved.

Belgium — as covered in our Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule — represent the final major tournament for their golden generation. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, all in their 30s, know that Group G — alongside Egypt, Iran and New Zealand — is one of the more navigable draws for an ageing squad with one last chance at a major tournament.

This match is two stories of “final chances” colliding. Salah’s last World Cup. Belgium’s golden generation’s last realistic shot at a major trophy.

Three Things to Watch

Mohamed Salah’s World Cup debut moment — Whatever happens in this match, the image of Salah walking onto the pitch for his final World Cup at 34 years old, fully fit, is one of the defining moments of Day 5.

Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity — If De Bruyne dictates the tempo as he did against Croatia, Belgium’s quality advantage could tell early.

Egypt’s defensive shape protecting Salah — As covered in our Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule, Egypt’s approach will likely be to defend in numbers and give Salah the platform to create something on the counter-attack.

Prediction

Belgium 2-1 Egypt

Belgium’s overall squad quality to tell over 90 minutes, but Salah to find the net — providing the moment that the millions watching across the Arab world and beyond will remember regardless of the final result.

Need To Know

What time is Belgium vs Egypt at World Cup 2026?
Belgium vs Egypt kicks off at 3pm Eastern Time on Monday June 15. That is 8pm British Summer Time. At Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

How can I watch Belgium vs Egypt for free?
In the USA: Tubi streams it completely free. Also free on Fox with cable or antenna. In the UK: ITV1 and ITVX, free to air. In Egypt: ON Time Sports free to air.

Is this Mohamed Salah’s last World Cup?
At 34 years old, this is almost certainly Mohamed Salah’s final FIFA World Cup appearance. He is Egypt’s captain and all-time leading scorer.

Who is Belgium’s best player vs Egypt?
Kevin De Bruyne — one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, at 34 playing in what could be his final major tournament — is Belgium’s most important creative player.

Has Egypt ever advanced from a World Cup group stage?
No — Egypt have appeared at the World Cup three times (1934, 1990, 2018) and have never advanced beyond the group stage. Qualifying from Group G in 2026 would be the most significant achievement in Egyptian football history.

Conclusion

Belgium vs Egypt. 3pm ET. Seattle. Free on Tubi, free on Fox, free on ITV1.

Mohamed Salah’s final World Cup begins here. Kevin De Bruyne’s golden generation’s last realistic shot continues here. Two stories of “one last chance” — on the same pitch, at the same time.

Read next: Spain vs Cape Verde — Lineup, How to Watch Free and Preview — World Cup 2026 Day 5

Related: Belgium World Cup 2026 Schedule — Full Group G Guide
Related: Egypt World Cup 2026 Schedule — Salah’s Final World Cup Guide

Will Mohamed Salah finally have the World Cup moment his career deserves — and can Egypt get a result against Belgium’s golden generation? Tell us in the comments below