World Cup: Belgium rallies past Senegal on controversial late penalty to reach Round of 16
SEATTLE — In one of the wildest finishes of the Round of 32 yet, Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time after a miraculous comeback.
Though Senegal took a two-goal lead in the second half, Belgium scored goals in the 86th and 89th minutes to send the game to extra time. Though neither team was initially able to break through, Belgium was awarded a crucial, and somewhat controversial penalty in stoppage time of the second extra time period after Red Devils captain Youri Tielemans was fouled by Lamine Camara in the box.
AdvertisementAdvertisementTielemans then nailed the penalty into the upper right corner and past Senegal keeper Mory Diaw, sealing the deal on the Red Devils' wild comeback finish.
Senegal did its best to try and find an equalizer in the final minutes, even getting a dangerous free kick right outside the box in the final kick of the game. But those final efforts weren't enough to keep the Lions of Teranga from going home.
Belgium erased Senegal's 2-0 lead in just three minutes
Though Belgium entered the game as a slight favorite, it was Senegal that controlled the first half. The Lions of Teranga had some excellent chances on goal before finally finding the back of the net: Though Ismaïler Sarr's initial header hit the post, Habib Diarra was there to score on the rebound.
Senegal added to that tally just a few minutes into the second half off a majestic goal from Sarr. A beautiful long ball from Moussa Niakhaté found Sarr well down the field, and the striker sprinted through three Belgian defenders before sending a perfect strike past Thibaut Courtois.
As time wound down, the Senegalese thought that they had it, but the Belgians dashed those hopes in a miraculous three-minute span. In the 86th minute, second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku suddenly took one back for the Red Devils.
Then, in the 89th minute, Tielemans pulled Diaw off his line for a tough finish to level things just before stoppage time.
Tielemans' clutch extra time penalty then gave him a crucial brace to keep Belgium's World Cup run alive in dramatic fashion. The Red Devils will now move on to the Round of 16, where they will stay in Seattle and face the winner of the match between United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This story will be updated.
Three Big Ten Receivers That Will Challenge the USC Trojans Secondary
Three Big Ten Receivers That Will Challenge the USC Trojans Secondary
Looking to reach the College Football Playoff, the USC Trojans' secondary will face a challenge against these three star wide receivers in the Big Ten.Caden Handwork|
In this story:
USC TrojansThroughout Lincoln Riley’s tenure as coach of the USC Trojans, defense has been a major question mark. Inconsistency on defense has held the Trojans back from reaching the College Football Playoff, and USC fans are increasingly desperate to reach the postseason.
With the arrival of new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, Trojan fans are hopeful that several defensive position groups on USC’s roster can take a major step forward. One of those position groups is the Trojans' secondary, which, after a 2025 season featuring highs and lows, returns several talented pieces.
Preparing to face a challenging Big Ten slate during the 2026 season, several opposing wide receivers will present a challenge for the Trojans' secondary. Here’s a look at a few of them ahead of the 2026 college football season.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
Arguably the best wide receiver in college football entering the 2026 season, Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will look to put on a show when they face the Trojans in what is bound to be a Halloween classic at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It’ll be the first time that the Buckeyes and Trojans will face off since USC joined the Big Ten. A win on Halloween over the Buckeyes would give Riley, depending on the result against Oregon earlier in the season, his most signature win at USC.
One of the keys to making that win a reality is by stopping Smith. In his sophomore season with the Buckeyes, Smith recorded 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith's best two games of the season last year came in the Buckeyes' two losses to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten championship and the CFP Quarterfinal defeat at the Cotton Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes.
The recipe for success for the Trojans' secondary against Ohio State next season could also be just allowing Smith to record 100-plus yards and stopping their other talented group of wide receivers.
KJ Duff, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
While the Trojans' Big Ten opener on Sept. 19 on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights should be a comfortable win for USC, there is a wide receiver on the opposing side who will provide an early-season test for Patterson’s secondary.
Rutgers’ KJ Duff is one of the top returning wide receivers in the Big Ten this season. In his second season with the Scarlet Knights last year, Duff ranked third in the Big Ten in receiving behind Jeremiah Smith and former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, recording 60 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns.
How the Trojans perform against Duff could be a sign of things to come throughout the 2026 season for USC’s secondary.
Nick Marsh, Indiana Hoosiers
Last season, when he was a member of the Michigan State Spartans, the Trojans' defense held wide receiver Nick Marsh to two receptions for 28 yards. Now with the defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers and quarterback Josh Hoover, the Trojans look to lock up Marsh once again in one of their most important road games of the season.
Marsh arrives in Bloomington after two seasons with a struggling Michigan State football program. In those two seasons, Marsh recorded 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. With better coaching and quarterback play, Marsh’s impact will be felt with the Hoosiers, and he’ll aim for a better performance against the Trojans' secondary.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.
Published 1 minute ago
CADEN HANDWORKCaden Handwork is a beat reporter for USC Trojans On SI. Caden graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Journalism. He has previous experience writing NBA, NFL, MLB, and College Football content for FanSided as a Contributor. He is also written as a contributor for the Detroit Lions FanSided site, the SideLion Report. At Michigan State, Caden covered several MSU athletic events for Impact 89 FM, Spartan Sports Report, and Spartans Illustrated. He has covered Michigan State Basketball in the Champions Classic in Chicago and has covered Spartan Hockey in the last two NCAA Tournaments.
Home/Football
USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina score, live updates: USMNT looks for first knockout stage win since 2002
Story by
Yahoo Sports StaffThu, July 2, 2026 at 12:18 AM UTCA home World Cup has done the USMNT good through three matches. The winners of Group D face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday with an opportunity to win their first knockout round match since 2002.
The USMNT left the group stage behind, tied for the fifth-most goals in the tournament. That offensive attack, featuring a healthy Christian Pulisic, will go up against a Bosnia and Herzegovina side that allowed six goals during the group stage. With Mauricio Pochettino fielding a lineup that will be similar to the Paraguay and Australia matches, the Americans should get their scoring chances, especially against a team that has never kept a clean sheet in six all-time World Cup matches.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe winner will next meet Belgium on Monday at Lumen Field in Seattle in the Round of 16.
Where to watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Levi's Stadium | Santa Clara, California
TV channel: Fox, Telemundo
Streaming: Fox One, Peacock
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest as the USMNT takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout round.
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 5:18 PM PDTNick Bromberg
The USMNT is probing. Westom McKennie breaks free down the right and forces GK Nikola Vasilj to dive and parry away the cross … which bounces immediately off Antonee Robinson and out for a goal kick.
Robinson collided with Vasilj, who is down and receiving treatment.
Freese is called into action again off a corner kick that looked destined for goal. Bosnia & Herzegovina have had a couple of nice chances early.
The U.S. cut through the B&H defense in the 10th minute off a 1-2 from Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun but the ball goes out for a goal kick.
B&H immediately takes that goal kick and launches it deep for Eden Dźeko who forces a save from Matt Freese.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe opening minutes have, as expected, Bosnia and Herzegovina defending deep and the USMNT searching to break the block down.
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 5:01 PM PDTBen Fawkes
Public bettors again backing the U.S.
No surprise, but the betting public is all over the USMNT to beat Bosnia today, with multiple sportsbooks reporting over 85% of wagers and 90% of total dollars wagered on the U.S. to win on the three-way line.
The U.S. is a sizable -800 favorite to simply advance — a rarity for the USMNT
Let's go
Can the U.S. strike early like it has during its group stage games?
As a reminder, the USMNT is going for its first knockout round win since 2002, but the 2026 World Cup expanded the knockout rounds from 16 teams to 32 teams.
AdvertisementAdvertisementPre-match ceremonies underway
Kickoff is 10 minutes away
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 4:45 PM PDTPaul Carr
Best bet for USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
United States to win first half (-115) vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
I've successfully been riding the U.S. to score a first-half goal all tournament, and I don't hate that play, though the price is in the -175 range now.
Instead, I'm pivoting to the first-half three-way moneyline, going with the U.S. at -115. The U.S. has played 13 straight games against 2026 World Cup teams, and in 10 of them, the U.S. scored a first-half goal. Bosnia and Herzegovina is in roughly the same tier as Paraguay and Australia, unlikely to open up the game in the first half like Türkiye did against the U.S. second string.
If we spot the U.S. a first-half goal, can Bosnia and Herzegovina get at least one in the first half? The squad has been far from an offensive juggernaut at this tournament, generating a total of 13 shots and 0.5 expected goals from open play. The U.S. has the size to combat Bosnia and Herzegovina's set pieces, and that should be enough to keep a clean sheet in the first half.
Mauricio Pochettino won't apply the brakes just because it's the knockout round, so look for the U.S. to add to its six first-half goals, tied with Brazil for most in the group stage. Christian Pulisic seemed healthy as a second-half sub against Türkiye, and his return to the lineup will make the U.S. even better. The U.S. should be up at halftime en route to a Round of 16 appearance.
Keys and predictions for USA-Bosnia & Herzegovina
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe USMNT now knows what awaits if it advances
The winner of Wednesday night's Round of 32 match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday on Seattle. The Red Devils booked their spot with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Senegal, sealed by a controversial penalty in the final minutes of added time.
That result sets up a quick return to Seattle for the winner of USA-Bosnia, with Belgium waiting on the other side.
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 3:45 PM PDTJay Busbee
How 'Country Roads' became the unofficial anthem of the World Cup
World Cup stadiums are using the hydration break as an opportunity to play "Country Roads," and it's glorious, every single time.
Why has "Country Roads" become such a phenomenon? Because it's quintessentially American. It's a song of the open road, a song of nostalgia for better days, a song about leaving home and then returning back to it. Most of all, it's a song that embodies the very best of America — the desire to get behind a wheel to chase a dream, and the pull back to one's own little stretch of land.
Those are universal human yearnings, and that's what makes the song so durable.
Read more on how “Country Roads” became the unofficial anthem of the World Cup.
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 3:40 PM PDTSean Leahy
USMNT starting XI vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mauricio Pochettino fields the same 11 as he did from the USMNT's opening win over Paraguay.
USMNT (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream; Dest, McKennie, Adams, Tillman, Robinson; Balogun, Pulisic
Bosnia and Herzegovina (3-4-1-2): Vasilj; Dedić, Radeljić, Katić, Muharemović, Kolašinac; Gigiović, Šunjić; Alajbegović, Demirović, Džeko
AdvertisementAdvertisementBetting tips for USA vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 3:15 PM PDTJeff Eisenberg
To advance, the U.S. will have to end its five-year European curse
The U.S. men's national team has lost 10 straight matches against European opponents.
While the U.S. has already piled up more goals at this World Cup than it has ever scored at a previous edition and has finished atop its group for just the second time since 1930, there are some demons that the Americans have yet to slay. Chief among them is a bleak history against European opponents.
Since returning to the World Cup stage in 1990 after a 40-year absence, the U.S. has faced teams from Europe 21 times at soccer's most celebrated tournament. The Americans have produced seven draws but just one victory, a 3-2 stunner against Portugal in their group play opener at the 2002 World Cup.
The U.S.'s current losing streak against European foes started with a humbling 3-1 round-of-16 defeat to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup. Since then, the U.S. has endured a string of setbacks, dropping friendlies on home soil against the likes of Serbia and Slovenia and getting blown out by three or more goals against Switzerland and Belgium.
Wed, July 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDTSteven GoffMauricio Pochettino downplays USMNT's role as favorite ahead of Round of 32 clash
Mauricio Pochettino does not want to hear any talk about the U.S. being favored in its World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.
Yes, the Americans won their group by playing impressive soccer in the first two matches and clinching first place with one game to spare, while their opponents needed to win on the final day to squeeze through as a third-place finisher.
Yes, they will again enjoy raucous support from an audience packed into an NFL stadium and take inspiration from the knowledge that some 25 million will be watching at home and at large gatherings.
Yes, their player portfolios are beefier than their counterparts. They are well-rested, relatively healthy and hungry to continue elevating the sport in this country after an intoxicating two weeks.
By all indications, the U.S. is the clear favorite to win at Levi's Stadium and advance to the Round of 16 Monday against Belgium or Senegal in Seattle.
Not so fast, Pochettino warned Tuesday.
"The last few days, [look] how difficult it was for everyone, you know?" he said. "I think it's probably better to talk [about favorites] after, no?" He then listed Paraguay upsetting Germany, Morocco beating the Netherlands and Japan giving Brazil fits.
"We need to be careful when we say, 'OK, one is favorite and the other one, no,'" he added.
