World Cup 2026: Belgium hits injury blow as Ecuador upsets Germany and Japan, Sweden qualify

During the ongoing World Cup 2026, Belgian forward Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg in a tackle against Qatar, prompting FIFA to impose a five‑match suspension on the offending player. Belgium’s campaign has been hampered by a lack of finishing efficiency, even as coach Hugo Broos celebrated a late win that sent South Africa through after beating South Korea.

In Group D, Ecuador delivered a surprise victory over Germany, eliminating the European side from the tournament. Meanwhile, Japan and Sweden secured qualification to the round of 16, with Japan finishing second and Sweden taking third place in their group. The knockout stage draw now shows South Africa facing Canada, Brazil meeting Japan, the Netherlands against Morocco, and the United States playing Bosnia‑Herzegovina.

These developments highlight both the on‑field drama of injuries and suspensions and the shifting fortunes of teams across several continents as the tournament progresses.