Belgium and Senegal will face off for a place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both teams have given their supporters reasons to worry during the group stage.
After two lackluster performances against Egypt and Iran, Belgium delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand. However, drawing conclusions from a match against a clear underdog remains a risky proposition.
Senegal struggled against France and Norway but showed resilience by thrashing Iraq 5-0 in their final group game. This win secured their spot among the eight best third-placed teams. Still, assessing the true potential of a squad regarded as one of Africa’s finest is challenging.
Belgium’s squad situation appears stable. The only confirmed absence is central defender Zeno Debast, sidelined with a muscle injury and training separately from the team, ruling him out of the Seattle clash. Winger Jérémy Doku has rejoined the squad after flying to London for the birth of his son. Head coach Garcia faces a key tactical decision: whether to continue deploying Charles De Ketelaere as a false nine or to start the in-form Romelu Lukaku up front.
The winner of this match will advance to the Round of 16, where they will face the victor of the USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina tie.
The Round of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal kicks off at 20:00 UTC.
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