Belgium overturns Senegal to reach World Cup last‑16

Belgium staged a dramatic comeback against Senegal in the World Cup round of 16, erasing a 2‑0 deficit with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans in the final minutes of regular time. A VAR‑reviewed penalty, awarded after Lamine Camara challenged Tielemans, was converted by the Belgian captain, sealing a 3‑2 victory after extra time.

The win propels Belgium to a forthcoming clash with co‑host United States, while prompting debate over manager Rudi Garcia’s tactics. Domestic outlets praised the triumph as a miracle, whereas international pundits highlighted earlier structural flaws and the reliance on late‑game luck. The match also revived discussion about VAR decisions after the contentious penalty.