Youri Tielemans scored the latest goal in World Cup history, and Belgium’s extra-time penalty now sends The United States into a round-of-16 meeting with Belgium in the 2026 World Cup. The matchup revives USA vs Belgium 2014 World Cup memories, with the winner moving into the last eight.
Tielemans ends Senegal’s resistance
Belgium needed two goals in the final five minutes of regulation time just to force 2-2 against Senegal, then Tielemans coolly converted the late extra-time penalty that finished the job. The midfielder’s strike settled a tie that had looked narrow, tense and late all at once.
That finish matters because Belgium did not control the game cleanly for long stretches. They were described as slightly rigid and uninventive on the ball, and they struggled to get Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku involved. Even so, the final touch came from a player built for pressure: Tielemans.
Belgium’s narrow route through
Belgium have not been fluid in possession throughout the tournament, but they still found a way through Senegal by leaning on the moments that counted. Leandro Trossard created 16 chances from open play at this World Cup, and he supplied the curling cross for Tielemans’ late equaliser before the penalty decided it.
The numbers around Belgium’s profile explain the shape of the win. They have produced 21 shots from dead-ball situations at this tournament, and they spent more of their time against low-blocks than all but three teams according to FIFA Football Performance Insights’ enhanced data set. That points to a side that can grind out chances even when the ball does not move smoothly.
United States draw Belgium again
The United States now face Belgium for a place in the last eight of the 2026 World Cup, and the bracket carries old weight. Belgium beat the United States 2-1 in the 2014 World Cup round of 16, so this is the same knockout meeting with a new stage and the same narrow margin of error.
Belgium enter it ranked No 9 in the world, with the United States 17th, and the path to this rematch runs through Wednesday’s late comeback against Senegal. Rudi Garcia’s side did not look polished, but they did enough to keep the tournament moving toward another U.S.-Belgium elimination game.
That leaves the United States with a direct answer to the question the bracket just posed: beat Belgium, or take the same exit the team took in 2014.
