Belgium will be hoping to silence critics at home and secure a place in the last 16 of the World Cup when they meet Senegal tonight.
Rudy Garcia’s side have been criticized for a pair of disappointing performances against Egypt and Iran before they secured their place in the knockout phase with a 5-1 win over New Zealand.
Senegal will present a much tougher challenge than anything they have faced thus far.
Pape Tia’s side also recorded a big 5-0 win over Iraq to reach a tough group that also included France and Norway.
Where to watch Belgium – Senegal: TV channel, live online broadcasts
The Belgium v Senegal match kicks off at 9pm UK time today. You can watch it next ITV1 and stream on ITVX.
World Cup 2026: Belgium – Senegal statistics
- Belgium are the first team to top their group at the World Cup despite not winning either of their opening two matches since the USA in 2010
- They are unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions (W10) and earned their biggest win in a World Cup match with a 5-1 win over New Zealand in the third round, scoring more goals in that game than in their previous seven finals (4)
- Leandro Trossard scored twice against New Zealand and created 13 chances, the most by a player in a World Cup group stage since Miralem Pjanic for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014 (also 13).
- All 13 of those chances have been created from open play, the most by any player in a single World Cup group since Enzo Schiffa created 15 for Belgium in 1994
- Romelu Lukaku scored in the final stoppage time to set up Alexis Saelemaekers as the striker took his tally to six goals and eight assists (6 goals, 2 assists) at the World Cup, giving the 33-year-old the most goals and assists of any Belgium player in the finals since the record holder began.
- Against Iraq in the third round of the day, Senegal recorded the most attempts (28), shots on goal (12), most expected goals (3.01) and most box touches (51) in a World Cup match
- Senegal have scored 14 goals in three games (8 for, 6 against) and only Norway’s games (15) have seen more
- Ismail Sarr has directly scored four goals in this year’s tournament (3 goals, 1 assist), the most by a Senegalese player in a single tournament (Henri Camara scored four in 2002).
- In the group stage, Idriss Gueye made 39 line-breaking passes – the most of any Senegal player – and took the lead in line-breaking passes at his previous international tournament, with 100 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
- Senegal have lost their last two World Cup knockout matches without scoring – 1-0 against Turkey in the 2002 quarter-finals and 3-0 against England in the round of 16 four years ago, having previously beaten Sweden 2-1 in the round of 16 in 2002
