Overview
- Belgium came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 after extra time with Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scoring late and Tielemans converting a 125th-minute penalty awarded after a lengthy VAR review.
- Coach Rudi Garcia told broadcasters that "those teams" tend to lose tactical shape when protecting a 2-0 lead and said protecting a 2-0 advantage was "a serious mistake," a phrase many listeners read as a critique of African sides.
- Hours after the match Garcia denied he was targeting African teams and posted on Instagram saying he meant teams unaccustomed to managing leads in high-level World Cup matches.
- Statisticians and media recalled Garcia's past results, with Opta noting he has lost matches after leading 2-0 while coaching in France, a detail that added context to both his comments and the late collapse on the pitch.
- Belgium will face the United States in Seattle on Monday, July 6, with the 125th-minute VAR decision, the penalty and Garcia's clarification dominating pre-match coverage and leaving Senegal players and supporters contesting the outcome.