Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup: Belgium vs Senegal
Kickoff Time: 2026-7-2 4:00 (HKT)
In the group stage, Belgium went undefeated with one win and two draws. Thanks to a superior goal difference, they edged out Egypt to top the group and advance to the knockout round of 32. Tactically, Belgium rely heavily on ball circulation orchestrated by Kevin De Bruyne, who stretches opposing defensive blocks through combinations down the central channel and wide areas to create openings. Jeremy Doku’s elite one-on-one dribbling down the left flank stands as Belgium’s most potent attacking weapon. On the opposite wing, Leandro Trossard operates in a versatile role: he can generate chances out wide while also occasionally drifting central to act as an auxiliary striker. Charles De Ketelaere, meanwhile, functions primarily as an attacking focal point to hold up play. That said, Belgium’s attacking rhythm grinds to a halt once their midfield is suffocated by opponents and De Bruyne’s passing lanes are closed off. The Red Devils struggle to break down deep defensive blocks through patient build-up play alone, a flaw laid bare during their group stage encounters with Egypt and Iran.
Senegal’s route to qualification was fraught with peril. They lost their opening two group fixtures, falling 2-0 to France before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat against Norway. In their decisive final group match, Senegal cruised to a 5-0 rout over Iraq. The Teranga Lions ultimately secured one of the best third-place spots via goal difference, scraping through to the round of 32 by the narrowest of margins. Tactically, Senegal adopt a low-block counterattacking system. Their defensive line drops deep, while aggressive midfield pressing disrupts opposition passing chains feeding the final third, allowing Senegal to spring rapid transitions after winning possession. Up front, Sadio Mané leads a devastating front three alongside Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr, a unit brimming with explosive pace and penetration. At the back, captain Kalidou Koulibaly boasts formidable physicality, ranking among Africa’s elite centre-backs for one-on-one defending and aerial duels. Senegal’s major vulnerability lies in goalkeeping. First-choice shot-stopper Édouard Mendy picked up an injury during the group stage, meaning backup custodian Ahmed Basheer is likely to start this fixture, which may introduce minor inconsistencies to their defensive stability.
On paper, Belgium hold clear advantages in squad reputation, star power and collective market value. Nevertheless, the European side carries glaring weaknesses: their ageing defensive line is vulnerable to rapid wide transitions, and they lack reliable solutions against compact deep blocks — shortcomings that align perfectly with Senegal’s tailor-made counterattacking game plan. All factors considered, Senegal are tipped to avoid defeat within the regulation 90 minutes of this tie.
Belgium ‘s Last 5 Games: WDDWW
26-06-27 New Zealand 1-5 Belgium
26-06-22 Belgium 0-0 Iran
26-06-16 Belgium 1-1 Egypt
26-06-06 Belgium 5-0 Tunisia
26-06-03 Croatia 0-2 Belgium
Senegal ‘s Last 5 Games: WLLDL
26-06-27 Senegal 5-0 Iraq
26-06-23 Norway 3-2 Senegal
26-06-17 France 3-1 Senegal
26-06-10 Saudi Arabia 0-0 Senegal
26-06-01 United States 3-2 Senegal
Prediction: Senegal to win away or draw