Senegal to Challenge Belgium After Struggles in the Group Stage

In the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the outcomes for Belgium and Senegal remained uncertain until the final matches. However, both teams secured emphatic victories in their last games to advance to the knockout stage. On Thursday at 1:45 AM local time, Belgium and Senegal will face each other in the Round of 32. Belgium, undefeated in the group stage and crowned group winners, will meet Senegal, who qualified on goal difference for the knockout rounds, marking their first-ever encounter. Key players for Belgium include Kevin De Bruyne and Leandro Trossard, while Senegal will rely on Ismaila Sarr and Papa Gueye.

Kathmandu – The group stage scenario for Belgium and Senegal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 was unclear until the final matches. Both teams had failed to register wins in their first two games, making their prospects of reaching the knockout stage quite slim. However, with impressive wins in their third matches, both secured places in the knockout phase, though their paths differ significantly. These two teams now compete in the Round of 32 on Thursday morning aiming to reach the last 16, with the match starting at 1:45 AM Nepal time. This knockout round encounter is expected to be intensely thrilling.

Despite their struggles in the group phase, Belgium remained unbeaten while Senegal advanced by winning only one game. In FIFA rankings, Belgium holds 9th place, and Senegal is 15th. Belgium topped Group G undefeated, entering the knockout stage as group winners. They drew 1-1 against Egypt in their opening game, followed by a goalless draw with Iran. Facing the challenge of winning their final group match, Belgium secured a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand, emerging as group winners on goal difference ahead of Egypt, both having 5 points.

Senegal, on the other hand, advanced from Group I in third place to reach the knockout stage. They accumulated just 3 points from one win and two losses but were fortunate to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams based on goal difference. Although Senegal performed well in the initial matches, defeats to France (3-1) and Norway (3-2) put their progression in jeopardy. A resounding 5-0 win over Iraq in their last group match proved decisive. Among the third-placed teams, Senegal was the only team to qualify with just 3 points. Teams like Iran, South Korea, and Scotland also had 3 points but failed to advance due to lower goal differences.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Belgium and Senegal in a World Cup. They have not faced each other previously in international football. All eyes will be on Belgium’s goal scorers from the last game, Leandro Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne. Trossard, who plays for Arsenal, scored twice against New Zealand, with De Bruyne and substitute Romelu Lukaku also contributing goals. As a regular starter, Trossard carries the main goal-scoring responsibility. De Bruyne will manage the midfield duties, while Lukaku remains a potent scoring option off the bench and has proven his effectiveness before. For Senegal, Ismaila Sarr and Papa Gueye will be key figures. Sarr netted twice against Norway and scored in the opening loss to France. In the final group match against Iraq, Papa Gueye came off the bench to score twice, bolstering Senegal’s advancement prospects.