Belgium face Senegal on Wednesday, July 1 at Lumen Field in Seattle in a Round of 32 knockout tie at the Football World Cup in 2026. This is a straight knockout match, the winner advances to the last 16 while the loser goes home, and it marks the first ever meeting between these two nations at any level.
In this blog, you will find everything you need to know about how to watch and stream Belgium vs Senegal World Cup in 2026 live online, along with team news, kick-off times, broadcast options, squad lists, and a full tactical breakdown.
Key Details
- Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- Kick off Time: 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT) / 9:00 p.m. BST / 1:30 a.m. IST (July 2) / 6:00 a.m. AEST (July 2)
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Where to Watch: Fox Sports (USA) | BBC iPlayer/ITVX (UK) | SBS (Australia) | TSN/RDS (Canada)
Where to Watch Belgium vs Senegal Football World Cup Match?
Fox Sports and FS1 carry the match in the United States, with Telemundo offering Spanish language coverage, while the UK split sees this fixture air free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Australian viewers can watch free on SBS, SBS Viceland, and SBS On Demand, while Canadian fans can find the match through TSN, RDS, and CTV.
The BBC and ITV share all 16 Round of 32 matches equally between them, meaning UK fans never face a paywall for this tie.
How to watch Belgium vs Senegal with a VPN
If Belgium vs Senegal is unavailable or geoblocked in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the UK streaming platform carrying this fixture. ITVX is restricted to UK viewers only, so anyone outside Britain needs a UK IP address to access the stream.
A VPN service like PureVPN solves this by routing your connection through UK servers. Here is the step by step guide.
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in (or create a free account).
- Search for the Belgium vs Senegal match and start streaming live.
Belgium Vs Senegal Football World Cup in 2026 Team News
Belgium Team News
Rudi Garcia took charge of Belgium in January 2025, bringing a coaching résumé that includes a French title with Lille and stints at Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al Nassr, and Napoli. His side stumbled into the tournament with two draws against Egypt and Iran before a ruthless 5-1 win over New Zealand secured top spot in Group G. That victory made Belgium the first European nation since England at Italia 90 to win a World Cup group despite failing to win either of their opening two matches.
Captain Youri Tielemans was handed the armband by Garcia in September 2025, only months after winning the UEFA Europa League with Aston Villa, scoring the opener in the final against Freiburg. Defender Zeno Debast is a doubt after a leg injury sustained during the group stage, though he returned to training in the days before the Senegal tie. Star man Kevin De Bruyne has carried Belgium’s creative threat throughout the tournament, while Romelu Lukaku now holds more World Cup goal involvements than any Belgian since 1966 following his goal and assist in the group stage.
Leandro Trossard inspired the turnaround against New Zealand with a first half brace and leads Belgium’s tournament scoring charts with two goals. Garcia set Belgium up in a 4-3-3 system through the group stage, built around quick transitions and De Bruyne’s vision pulling the strings centrally. Belgium are appearing at their 15th World Cup and are looking to better their group stage exit at Qatar 2022.
Senegal Team News
Pape Thiaw, who played for Senegal during their historic quarter final run at the 2002 World Cup, leads a squad blending experience with emerging talent. Senegal qualified unbeaten before stumbling at the tournament itself, losing their opening two games to France and Norway before responding with a 5 0 demolition of Iraq to scrape through as a third placed qualifier. That win over Iraq made Senegal the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match, with substitute Pape Gueye netting twice.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly anchors the defence with more than 100 international caps and remains a calm, experienced presence at the back despite being 35 years old. Senegal will be without first choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the Senegal tie, who is dealing with a knee sprain, meaning Mory Diaw or Yehvann Diouf is set to start instead. Idrissa Gana Gueye, Senegal’s most capped player with 131 appearances, continues to anchor midfield at 36 years old alongside the more youthful Lamine Camara and Pape Matar Sarr.
Sadio Mane remains the team’s talisman and Senegal’s all time top scorer with 53 goals in 126 appearances, though he did not get on the scoresheet during the group stage win over Iraq. Thiaw’s side set up in a 4-3-3 shape geared toward fast transitions, with Ismaila Sarr’s pace on the counter representing their sharpest attacking weapon. Senegal have lost their last two World Cup knockout games against European opposition, falling to England and Turkiye respectively in previous tournaments.
Belgium World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
- Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
- Attackers: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
Senegal World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf
- Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdoulaye Seck, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs, Mamadou Sarr, Antoine Mendy, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Krepin Diatta
- Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Pathe Ciss, Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara, Habib Diarra, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
- Attackers: Sadio Mane, Bamba Dieng, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Cherif Ndiaye, Ibrahim Mbaye, Assane Diao
Belgium VS Senegal Match Preview
Belgium and Senegal meet on July 1 at Lumen Field in Seattle, a venue already familiar to the Red Devils after they drew 1-1 with Egypt there during the group stage. Neither side has met the other before at any level, adding extra intrigue to a Round of 32 tie that promises goals given both teams’ recent scoring form. For Belgium, the match offers a chance to erase memories of their group stage exit at Qatar 2022, while Senegal are chasing their best World Cup run since reaching the quarter finals in 2002.
Belgium’s path to the knockouts was unconvincing for two games before exploding into life against New Zealand, while Senegal’s route included heavy defeats before their statement win over Iraq. Both nations head into Seattle carrying genuine attacking momentum, even if neither has yet proven they can sustain that form against stronger opposition. Belgium’s deeper squad and bigger tournament pedigree make them slight favourites, though Senegal have shown they can punish defensive lapses ruthlessly.
The stakes are high for both camps, with Belgium’s golden generation of De Bruyne and Lukaku running short on time to deliver a deep run, while Senegal aim to prove their African qualification credentials translate to knockout success. A place in the last 16 awaits the winner, who would face the victor of USA against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both sets of fans will travel in numbers to the Pacific Northwest for what promises to be a lively atmosphere at Lumen Field.
Tactical Outlook
Belgium are expected to set up in a 4-3-3, with De Bruyne dropping deep to dictate tempo while Doku and Trossard stretch play on the flanks. Senegal will likely sit in a compact block out of possession, looking to spring quick counters through Ismaila Sarr’s pace and Mane’s movement in behind. The key individual battle pits De Bruyne’s creativity against Senegal’s central midfield screen of Gana Gueye and Camara, who will try to deny him space to operate. Belgium need their front three to convert chances clinically, while Senegal need defensive discipline from Koulibaly’s back line to avoid being overrun in transition.
Football World Cup in 2026 Match Schedule
| Date | Day | Match |
|---|---|---|
| June 30 | Tuesday | Netherlands vs Morocco |
| June 30 | Tuesday | Ivory Coast vs Norway |
| June 30 | Tuesday | France vs Sweden |
| July 1 | Wednesday | Mexico vs Ecuador |
| July 1 | Wednesday | England vs DR Congo |
| July 1 | Wednesday | Belgium vs Senegal |
| July 2 | Thursday | USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| July 2 | Thursday | Spain vs Austria |
| July 3 | Friday | Portugal vs Croatia |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the Football World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded Football World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this Football World Cup lasts 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in the 2026 Football World Cup
There are 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where games take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match was especially historic. The tournament kicked off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico faced South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in Football World Cup history and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s Football World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The knockout stage will conclude with the final, to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.
The Stars to Watch in the 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final Football World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his Football World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final Football World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Knockout Stage: The Road to the Final
The knockout stage of the 2026 Football World Cup is the second and final stage of the competition, played from June 28 to July 19, 2026. The top two teams from each of the twelve groups, along with the best eight third-place teams, have advanced to compete in a single-elimination tournament.
The 2026 World Cup is ready to enter its knockout stage. Here's how the tournament's next phase differs from the group stage. https://t.co/ZUtq2tVWQo
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) June 28, 2026
Football World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule
| Round | Date | Match / Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | June 28 | Canada vs. South Africa |
| Round of 32 | Monday, June 29 | Brazil vs. Japan |
| Round of 32 | Monday, June 29 | Germany vs. Paraguay |
| Round of 32 | Monday, June 29 | Netherlands vs. Morocco |
| Round of 32 | Tuesday, June 30 | Ivory Coast vs. Norway |
| Round of 32 | Tuesday, June 30 | France vs. Sweden |
| Round of 32 | Tuesday, June 30 | Mexico vs. Ecuador |
| Round of 32 | Wednesday, July 1 | England vs. DR Congo |
| Round of 32 | Wednesday, July 1 | Belgium vs. Senegal |
| Round of 32 | Wednesday, July 1 | USA vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Round of 32 | Thursday, July 2 | Spain vs. Austria |
| Round of 32 | Friday, July 3 | Portugal vs. Croatia |
| Round of 32 | Friday, July 3 | Switzerland vs. Algeria |
| Round of 32 | Friday, July 3 | Australia vs. Egypt |
| Round of 32 | Friday, July 3 | Argentina vs. Cape Verde |
| Round of 32 | Friday, July 3 | Colombia vs. Ghana |
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Fixtures ⚽
— World of StatHistics (@Stat_Cult) June 28, 2026
🗓️ Sunday, June 28
🇿🇦 South Africa – Canada 🇨🇦 →
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi)
🗓️ Monday, June 29
🔥 🇧🇷 Brazil – Japan 🇯🇵 →
🏟️ Houston Stadium (NRG)
🇩🇪 Germany – Paraguay 🇵🇾 →
🏟️ Boston Stadium (Gillette)
🇳🇱 Netherlands –… pic.twitter.com/Upoc5irwla
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Mexico has 3 stadiums like this and still got just 13 matches to host and USA is hosting 78 matches.
— Rahul Raj (@RahulRajVerse) June 28, 2026
Mexico is definitely Robbed😢😭 pic.twitter.com/HMyhQJ1Xhk
Prize Money and Commercial Scale of the 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this Football World Cup was confirmed at an official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s Football World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended Football World Cup with 3.6 million fans. That record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup Official Broadcasters
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest Football World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last Football World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The match kicks off on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Lumen Field in Seattle, with a 4:00 p.m. ET kick off time.
Belgium topped Group G ahead of Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, while Senegal finished third in Group I behind France and Norway.
Belgium drew their first two group games against Egypt and Iran before winning 5-1 against New Zealand to secure top spot.
Sadio Mane remains Senegal’s all time leading scorer, though Ismaila Sarr and substitute Pape Gueye have also been productive at this tournament.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, though streaming platforms have their own terms of service regarding location restrictions, so check local regulations before streaming.
No, Wednesday’s Round of 32 tie marks the first ever meeting between Belgium and Senegal at any level.
