---
title: "Miracle in Belgium and Dzeko's Record: How the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 Pairings Were Decided"
description: "🔥 Belgium snatched victory from Senegal in the final seconds! Lukaku and Tielemans saved the match, while Dzeko set a historic record. The USA advanced with ten men — now they await the Belgian national team in the Round of 16! ⚽🌍 #WC2026 #Football"
date: 2026-07-02T06:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/world-cup-2026-belgium-senegal-usa-round-of-16-en
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Miracle in Belgium and Dzeko's Record: How the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 Pairings Were Decided

![Belgian national team player celebrates a goal in an away match, part of the journey to reach the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/02/chempionat-mira-2026-belgiya-senegal-usa-1-8-finala/chempionat-mira-2026-belgiya-senegal-usa-1-8-finala-1.webp)

The night of July 2nd proved decisive for several national teams at the 2026 World Cup. In the first round of the playoffs, matches took place that not only determined the participants of the next stage but also gave viewers incredible emotions, historical records, and willpower victories. As a result of these confrontations, one of the most intriguing Round of 16 pairings was formed.

### Belgium vs. Senegal: Triumph in the Final Seconds

The match between the Belgium and Senegal national teams went down in history as a model of sporting character. The African team, led by a confident style of play, controlled the encounter for most of the time. By the middle of the second half, the score was crushing: 2-0 in favor of Senegal. The goals were scored by Abib Diarra (25th minute) and Ismaila Sarr (51st minute).

It seemed that the fate of the duel was decided, but Rudi Garcia's charges showed that in football, nothing is decided until the final whistle. In the last minutes of regular time, the Belgians made an incredible surge. In the 86th minute, substitute Romelu Lukaku scored one back, and three minutes later, in the 89th, Youri Tielemans equalized the score — 2-2. The match went into overtime.

The decisive moment came in the 120+5th minute. After reviewing the video replay, the referee awarded a penalty to Senegal for a foul against Tielemans. Calmly converting the penalty kick, Youri completed his brace and snatched a place in the Round of 16 for Belgium. It was a triumph of will and tactical discipline.

### A Historic Moment for Edin Dzeko

This match will be remembered not only for its dramatic finale but also for a unique historical event. The 40-year-old Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko, playing for the Belgium national team, became the first outfield player in World Cup history to play in a playoff match at such an age. His participation became a symbol of longevity and mastery in modern football.

### USA: Victory with Ten Men and a New Record

Another match in the first round of the playoffs was also full of drama. The USA national team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, achieved an important victory that allowed them to overcome the first round of the playoffs at the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

In the 45th minute, American Folarin Balogun opened the scoring, shooting between the opponent's goalkeeper's legs. This goal was his third in the tournament, allowing him to tie Landon Donovan's national record for goals scored in a single World Cup.

In the second half, the situation for the USA became complicated: in the 64th minute, Balogun was sent off for a foul. However, the team did not crumble. In the 82nd minute, Malik Tillman perfectly executed a free kick, doubling the lead. Thanks to this success, the Americans advanced confidently.

### New Round of 16 Pairing

Now, the Belgium and USA national teams will meet in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. This confrontation promises to be one of the brightest matches of the tournament: the Belgians, who proved their character in a high-scoring match, will face the Americans, who have passed the first round of the playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

Previously, artificial intelligence named the main favorites for the 2026 World Cup "gold" before the start of the playoffs. But now, after these matches, the list of possible winners has become even more unpredictable. Football has proven again: there is nothing impossible in it.