Senegal to face Belgium in 2026 World Cup Round of 16
via SeneNews1 min read
Senegal's national football team, the Lions of Teranga, will play Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. This matchup was confirmed after the final group stage matches. A 0-0 draw between Portugal and Colombia, combined with the Democratic Republic of Congo's 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, solidified the tournament bracket. The Democratic Republic of Congo's win secured their spot as one of the best third-placed teams, leading to a reshuffling of the Round of 16 fixtures. This outcome means Senegal will face the winner of Group G, Belgium, rather than England, which had been a previous possibility. Senegal, coached by Pape Thiaw, qualified for the knockout stage after a 5-0 win against Iraq. The match against Belgium is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1st, at 8 PM GMT at Lumen Field in Seattle. Belgium's team includes several experienced players from top European leagues.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegal's national football team, the Lions of Teranga, has qualified for the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, but their potential route to the final is set to be exceptionally difficult. The team finds itself in the toughest section of the tournament bracket, facing several top global football nations. In the round of 16, Senegal could play either Germany, a four-time world champion, or the Netherlands. If they advance, the quarterfinals might see them face France, finalists in the last two World Cups, or Sweden. Should Senegal overcome these challenges, a potential semifinal match could be against Brazil or Argentina, the reigning world champions. The other half of the bracket includes strong teams such as Spain and England, indicating that any team reaching the final will have navigated a series of high-level confrontations.
SeneNews will provide live coverage of the 2026 World Cup group stage match between Algeria and Austria. The game is scheduled for Friday, June 28, 2026, at 02:00 Dakar time at Arrowhead Stadium. Live updates will include the score, team compositions, and match events. The article lists the starting lineups for both teams: Algeria's coach Vladimir Petkovic will field Oussama Benbot, Rafik Belghali, A茂ssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Jaouen Hadjam, Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, Ibrahim Maza, Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, and Far猫s Cha茂bi. Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick's starting eleven includes Alexander Schlager, Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene, Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager, Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, and Marko Arnautovi膰. Substitutes for both teams are also provided.
Senegal has qualified for the World Cup 2026 round of 16 and now faces two potential opponents: Belgium or England. The final determination depends on the outcome of the match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uzbekistan, scheduled for tonight at 11:30 PM GMT. If DR Congo wins, Senegal will play Belgium, the Group G leader, on Wednesday, July 1st, at 8:00 PM GMT in Seattle. However, if DR Congo does not perform well, Senegal will face England on the same day at 4:00 PM GMT in Atlanta. The Senegalese team, led by Pape Thiaw, must prepare for two distinct playing styles, whether it's the physical rigor of the Belgians or the intensity of the English. The outcome of the DR Congo match will indirectly determine Senegal's next challenge in the tournament.