Belgium vs. Senegal Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Use Code SSWC Belgium and Senegal meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Wednesday at 4:00 PM ET on FS1. Belgium won Group G after finishing with five points, using a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand in its final group match to edge Egypt on goal difference. Senegal advanced as one of the best third-place teams after a decisive 5-0 victory over Iraq in its group finale. Belgium enters the knockout stage unbeaten in its last five matches, while Senegal has won three of its last five contests. Build your bankroll using our free World Cup picks.
Belgium Finding Form at the Right Time
Belgium needed a convincing performance in its final group match and delivered with an impressive 5-1 victory over New Zealand. That result followed draws against Egypt and Iran, allowing the Red Devils to finish atop Group G. Belgium averaged 2.00 goals while conceding just 0.67 goals per match and generated an outstanding 2.61 expected goals average, one of the strongest attacking marks in the tournament.
Leandro Trossard leads Belgium with two tournament goals, while Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have each added a goal. Hans Vanaken, Lukaku, and Nicolas Raskin have all contributed assists, highlighting Belgium's balanced attack. The midfield has consistently controlled matches with 58% average possession, while the defense has limited opponents to only 0.55 expected goals per game.
Belgium has now won three of its last five matches, including friendly victories over Croatia and Tunisia before the tournament. The experienced core continues to provide stability, and the convincing performance against New Zealand should give the Red Devils confidence entering the knockout rounds.
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Injuries: No injuries have been reported for Belgium.
Senegal Dangerous Despite Third-Place Finish
Senegal's route to the knockout stage was anything but straightforward. The Lions of Teranga opened with losses to France and Norway before responding with a tournament-record 5-0 victory over Iraq to keep their World Cup hopes alive. That explosive performance secured advancement and reminded everyone how dangerous this squad can be when its attack finds rhythm.
Ismaila Sarr has led Senegal with three goals and one assist through three matches. Pape Gueye added two goals in the victory over Iraq, while Iliman Ndiaye has recorded two assists and Sadio ManΓ© has added another. Senegal averages 2.67 goals per match despite losing twice during group play, showing its ability to create quality scoring opportunities against aggressive opponents.
Defensively, Senegal has room for improvement after allowing six goals in its first two matches before keeping a clean sheet against Iraq. The Lions of Teranga still possess plenty of pace on the counterattack, and their athleticism could create problems if Belgium commits too many numbers forward.
Injuries: No injuries have been reported for Senegal.
Recent Head-to-Head
Belgium and Senegal have met only once previously at the FIFA World Cup. Belgium earned a 1-0 victory during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Wednesday's meeting marks their first-ever knockout stage encounter.
Belgium vs. Senegal Match Pick
- Belgium (+115)
Belgium appears to have rediscovered its attacking confidence after the dominant victory over New Zealand, and the overall balance of this squad gives the Red Devils a slight edge. De Bruyne continues to dictate the tempo, Lukaku remains a dangerous target in the penalty area, and Belgium's defense has been considerably more reliable than Senegal's throughout the tournament. Senegal certainly has enough pace and attacking quality to threaten, but Belgium's experience in knockout football should prove decisive in a tightly contested match.
Belgium vs. Senegal Over/Under Pick
- Under 2.5 Goals (-160)
While both teams possess dangerous attacking players, knockout matches often become much more cautious after the opening stages. Belgium has allowed only two goals through three World Cup matches, while Senegal is likely to defend better than it did during group play. Belgium should control possession for long stretches, limiting Senegal's counterattacking chances. A close match decided by one goal, such as a 1-0 or 2-0 Belgium victory, fits this matchup well, making the under the stronger play.
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