No previous meetings between these teams.
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1
Ismaïla Sarr3 - 2
Leandro Trossard2 - 3Pape Gueye2
- 4Ibrahim Mbaye1
- 5Iliman Ndiaye1
- 6Romelu Lukaku1
- 7Alexis Saelemaekers1
- 8Kevin De Bruyne1
- 9Habib Diarra1
- 1Kevin De Bruyne16
- 2Ismaïla Sarr12
- 3Leandro Trossard11
- 4Nicolas Jackson7
- 5Maxim De Cuyper7
- 6Pape Gueye6
- 7Sadio Mané5
- 8Youri Tielemans5
- 9Romelu Lukaku4
- 10Arthur Theate4
- 1Krépin Diatta8
- 2Idrissa Gueye4
- 3Timothy Castagne4
- 4Charles De Ketelaere3
- 5Youri Tielemans3
- 6Brandon Mechele3
- 7El Hadji Malick Diouf2
- 8Alexis Saelemaekers2
- 9Nathan Ngoy2
- 10Nicolas Jackson2
- 1Iliman Ndiaye2
- 2Ismaïla Sarr1
- 3Abdoulaye Seck1
- 4Lamine Camara1
- 5Romelu Lukaku1
- 6Nicolas Jackson1
- 7Sadio Mané1
- 8Pape Gueye1
- 9Nicolas Raskin1
- 10Hans Vanaken1
- 1Leandro Trossard13
- 2Kevin De Bruyne9
- 3Sadio Mané9
- 4Hans Vanaken7
- 5Youri Tielemans6
- 6Lamine Camara5
- 7Idrissa Gueye5
- 8Matias Fernandez-Pardo4
- 9Timothy Castagne4
- 10Ibrahim Mbaye3
- 1Moussa Niakhaté201
- 2Idrissa Gueye200
- 3Brandon Mechele188
- 4Krépin Diatta161
- 5Nathan Ngoy142
- 6Youri Tielemans135
- 7Pape Gueye113
- 8Kevin De Bruyne110
- 9Maxim De Cuyper108
- 10Leandro Trossard107
- 1Leandro Trossard7
- 2Sadio Mané6
- 3Krépin Diatta6
- 4Jérémy Doku5
- 5Kevin De Bruyne5
- 6Ibrahim Mbaye3
- 7Iliman Ndiaye3
- 8Charles De Ketelaere3
- 9Lamine Camara3
- 10Matias Fernandez-Pardo2
- 1Timothy Castagne5
- 2Charles De Ketelaere3
- 3Nathan Ngoy3
- 4Maxim De Cuyper3
- 5Pape Gueye3
- 6El Hadji Malick Diouf2
- 7Lamine Camara2
- 8Arthur Theate2
- 9Moussa Niakhaté2
- 10Kalidou Koulibaly2
Belgium and Senegal lock horns in an intriguing Round of 32 showdown at the 2026 World Cup. The high-stakes knockout match will take place on Wednesday 1st July at Seattle Stadium, Washington, with kick-off set for 9pm (UK time).
The Red Devils topped Group G despite a slow start to their campaign. After grinding out tense stalemates against Egypt and Iran, Belgium finally clicked into gear in their final group fixture, dismantling New Zealand with a ruthless 5-1 performance to find their tournament rhythm just in time.
Senegal punched above their weight as one of the best third-placed finishers, navigating their way through a brutally difficult Group I. While the Lions of Teranga proved they can be devastating on their day by putting five unanswered goals past Iraq, defensive vulnerabilities were exposed in losses to France and Norway.
Belgium vs Senegal predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 12/5 @ Betfred (29.3%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | A stalemate inside 90 minutes is highly likely given how evenly these two teams match up. Before their big wins on the final day, Belgium struggled to find a breakthrough, grinding out a 1-1 draw with Egypt and a goalless draw against Iran. Ultimately, this Belgian team continually underwhelms when the pressure is on, while Senegal have clear weaknesses at the back that make them vulnerable. With neither side showing the consistency or complete quality needed to dominate the match, neither one is likely to have enough to win it within normal time. |
| Youri Tielemans over 0.5 shots on target | 6/4 @ 10Bet (40%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | The Aston Villa midfielder is a constant long-range threat and has a clear licence to shoot from distance in this Belgian setup. Tielemans registered at least one shot in all three group-stage matches, notably hitting the target in the 0-0 draw against Iran. With Senegal expected to drop deep and defend in a low block to protect their fragile defense, spaces will open up for Tielemans to arrive late at the edge of the box. Given his elite ball-striking ability and Senegal’s tendency to give away cheap fouls around the penalty area, he is a very strong option to test the keeper at least once from midfield. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Belgium vs Senegal
Belgium
The Red Devils started their Group G campaign in unconvincing fashion, struggling to break down disciplined defensive units. Rudi Garcia’s side lacked a clinical edge on matchday one, grinding out a frustrating 1-1 draw against Egypt. They followed that up with another turgid performance in a scoreless 0-0 stalemate with Iran. Flirting with an early exit on the final day, the pressure was immense, but Belgium finally found their rhythm when it mattered most.
They responded with a devastating attacking performance against New Zealand to close out the group. The Red Devils completely overwhelmed the Kiwis, executing a ruthless, high-tempo game plan to secure a commanding 5-1 victory. By finding their groove just in time, they became the first European nation in 36 years to top a World Cup group after failing to win their opening two matches.
The primary asset for this Belgian squad remains their veteran core. With Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield and Romelu Lukaku able to spearhead the front line, they still possess enough quality to dismantle teams in the blink of an eye. If they can replicate the fluid, transition-heavy style that tore New Zealand apart, their superior technical quality should suit the tempo of knockout football.
Senegal
Senegal advanced to the knockout stage by navigating an absolute gauntlet in Group I, squeezing through as one of the tournament’s best third-placed finishers. Under the guidance of coach Pape Thiaw, the Lions of Teranga experienced a rollercoaster group stage, opening with a tough 3-1 defeat to tournament heavyweights France. Their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed once more in a chaotic 3-2 loss to a relentless Norway side. Left with zero room for error in their final group fixture, Senegal delivered when their backs were against the wall.
Facing Iraq in a must-win encounter, they unleashed an explosive, five-star performance to keep their World Cup dream alive. Habib Diarra opened the scoring just four minutes in before a second-half onslaught – featuring a brace from Pape Gueye and strikes from Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye – routed Iraq 5-0 to book a ticket to the Round of 32.
The undisputed strength of the African champions lies in their lightning-fast transition speed and immense physical presence. Led by the evergreen Sadio Mane, Senegal’s forward line has the raw pace and athleticism to terrify any backline on the counter-attack. However, their defensive frailties remain a massive area of concern. Having conceded six goals across their first two matches, Thiaw’s men must heavily tighten up or a single lapse in concentration against Belgium’s individual talent could prove fatal.
Belgium team news
Rudi Garcia faces a big selection decision upfront as Romelu Lukaku pushes for a start following his goal and assist off the bench against New Zealand. The striker has been managing a hamstring injury and started the second group match against Iran, but he remains behind Charles De Ketelaere for selection.
Centre back Nathan Ngoy is expected to return to partner Brandon Mechele after serving a one-match suspension against New Zealand. The defender had firmly established himself as a trusted starter before his red card, starting every international fixture he was available for leading up to and during the tournament.
Senegal team news
Pape Thiaw is definitely without first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was ruled out after sustaining a serious knee injury against Norway on matchday two. Mory Diaw will deputise between the posts once again after keeping a clean sheet in the 5-0 win over Iraq.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly will anchor the backline alongside Moussa Niakhate, while Ismail Jakobs is set to continue at left-back. In midfield, Pape Matar Sarr and Lamine Camara are expected to retain their places to provide energy against Belgium’s technical core. In attack, Sadio Mane will lead the line alongside Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson, with Habib Diarra also pushing for selection after scoring early in the final group game.
Head-to-Head
This Round of 32 clash will be the first-ever meeting between Belgium and Senegal.
Who will progress to the last 16?
Belgium’s aging golden generation has looked entirely sluggish, with their tournament so far fitting the exact underwhelming trend of previous years. Meanwhile, a highly physical Senegal side brings rawness and speed, but the Lions of Teranga remain heavily plagued by a fragile defensive line that can collapse under sustained pressure.
We are backing the match to end in a Draw (inside 90 mins) at 12/5 with Betfred. Neither side has shown the complete consistency or defensive security required to dominate, making a tightly contested stalemate within normal time a highly likely outcome.
We also like the value on Youri Tielemans to record over 0.5 shots on target at 6/4 with 10Bet. Senegal are expected to defend in a deep block to shield their vulnerable backline, which will inevitably open up space for the Aston Villa midfielder to test the keeper with his superb long-range ball-striking.
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