Belgium rallies late, Tielemans penalty sends them to World Cup last 16

Belgium was on the brink of elimination before two late goals forced extra time and Youri Tielemans converted the decisive penalty to send the Red Devils into the World Cup last 16. The comeback landed Belgium in the knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament already reshaped by its expanded field and longer road to the title.

The result carried extra weight because the 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the competition and the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches. For Belgium, the path into the knockout bracket began well before the final whistle. The team finished first in UEFA Group J in European qualifying, a strong enough campaign to secure its place in the tournament and keep its title hopes alive in a field that now stretches deeper than any previous World Cup.

Tielemans, the midfielder who struck the decisive penalty, has been one of the notable players in UEFA qualifying and again delivered when Belgium needed a calm finish most. After looking finished in regulation, Belgium found two goals in the final minutes to drag the contest into extra time. That late surge changed everything. Instead of heading home, Belgium stayed alive and turned a collapse into progression.

The round of 16 is scheduled for July 4 to July 7, 2026, with matches spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA has listed Philadelphia, Houston, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver among the knockout-stage venues, underscoring how widely the expanded tournament is being staged. For Belgium, the prize is simple: another match, another chance, and a place among the final 16 teams in a World Cup built to be bigger, longer and less forgiving.