Belgium vs. Senegal projected lineups, starting 11 for World Cup Round of 32 game in Seattle
Belgium and Senegal meet in Seattle on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Belgium topped Group G after an unbeaten campaign, drawing with Egypt and Iran before finishing the group stage with a 5-1 win over New Zealand.
Senegal reached the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams from Group I. After defeats to France and Norway, they responded with a 5-0 win over Iraq to keep their tournament alive.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news, injuries and projected starting lineups for both sides ahead of the Round of 32 clash.
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Belgium projected starting 11
(4-2-3-1, right to left): T. Courtois (GK) — T. Castagne, B. Mechele, A. Theate, M. De Cuyper — Y. Tielemans, H. Vanaken — J. Doku, K. De Bruyne, L. Trossard — C. De Ketelaere
- Injured: Z. Debast (fitness, doubtful)
- Suspended: None
- On a yellow card: None
Belgium have few injury concerns heading, with Zeno Debast the only notable absentee. The defender has returned to partial training but is still expected to miss the meeting with Senegal.
Rudi Garcia is unlikely to make significant changes after Belgium topped Group G. Thibaut Courtois should continue in goal behind a back four of Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate and Maxim De Cuyper.
Kevin De Bruyne will once again orchestrate Belgium’s attack, with Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard expected to provide the width. Youri Tielemans and Hans Vanaken are set to retain their places at the base of midfield.
The main selection decision comes in attack, where Charles De Ketelaere is expected to start as the central striker. Romelu Lukaku remains available if Belgium require a more traditional No. 9 during the knockout tie.
MORE: Ranking remaining World Cup teams 1-32
Senegal projected starting 11
(4-3-3, right to left): M. Diaw (GK) — K. Diatta, A. Seck, M. Niakhate, I. Jakobs — H. Diarra, I. Gueye, L. Camara — I. Mbaye, I. Sarr, S. Mane
- Injured: E. Mendy (fitness, doubtful)
- Suspended: None
- On a yellow card: None
Senegal are expected to be without first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, meaning Mory Diaw is projected to continue between the posts against Belgium. The remainder of Pape Thiaw’s preferred lineup is expected to remain unchanged.
Abdoulaye Seck and Moussa Niakhate should continue in central defence, with Krepin Diatta and Ismail Jakobs expected to start at full-back. Idrissa Gueye is once again set to anchor the midfield alongside Habib Diarra and Lamine Camara.
Sadio Mane remains Senegal’s star attacking threat and is expected to lead the front three alongside Ismaila Sarr and Ibrahima Mbaye. The trio will be tasked with stretching Belgium’s defence on the counterattack.
There are still selection decisions for Thiaw to make, with Mendy’s fitness, Iliman Ndiaye‘s role and the possibility of Kalidou Koulibaly returning all worth monitoring before kickoff.
MORE: Printable World Cup bracket
Belgium vs. Senegal predictions, betting odds
Belgium enter the knockout stages as favourites after topping Group G unbeaten, but Senegal have already shown they possess the pace and physicality to trouble elite opposition. The battle between Kevin De Bruyne and Senegal’s energetic midfield could prove decisive in Seattle.
Senegal boast plenty of attacking quality through Sadio Mane and Ismaïla Sarr, but Belgium’s experience and creativity should give Rudi Garcia’s side the edge and see them book a place in the Round of 16.
- Score prediction: Belgium 2-1 Senegal
Belgium vs. Senegal World Cup rosters
Here are the players selected in Belgium and Senegal’s squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All ages, clubs and international caps are correct as of the squads being announced in May 2026.
Belgium World Cup roster
Head coach: Rudi Garcia
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid (La Liga, Spain) | 34 | 107 |
| GK | 12 | Senne Lammens | Manchester United (Premier League, England) | 23 | 2 |
| GK | 13 | Mike Penders | Chelsea (Premier League, England) | 20 | 0 |
| DEF | 21 | Timothy Castagne | Fulham (Premier League, England) | 30 | 62 |
| DEF | 2 | Zeno Debast | Sporting CP (Primeira Liga, Portugal) | 22 | 26 |
| DEF | 5 | Maxim De Cuyper | Brighton (Premier League, England) | 25 | 17 |
| DEF | 16 | Koni De Winter | AC Milan (Serie A, Italy) | 23 | 7 |
| DEF | 4 | Brandon Mechele | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 33 | 7 |
| DEF | 15 | Thomas Meunier | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 34 | 78 |
| DEF | 25 | Nathan Ngoy | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 22 | 2 |
| DEF | 18 | Joaquin Seys | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 21 | 4 |
| DEF | 3 | Arthur Theate | Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, Germany) | 25 | 32 |
| MID | 7 | Kevin De Bruyne | Napoli (Serie A, Italy) | 34 | 117 |
| MID | 24 | Amadou Onana | Aston Villa (Premier League, England) | 24 | 27 |
| MID | 23 | Nicolas Raskin | Rangers (Premiership, Scotland) | 25 | 11 |
| MID | 8 | Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa (Premier League, England) | 29 | 83 |
| MID | 20 | Hans Vanaken | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 33 | 32 |
| MID | 6 | Axel Witsel | Girona (Segunda Division, Spain) | 37 | 136 |
| FWD | 17 | Charles De Ketelaere | Atalanta (Serie A, Italy) | 25 | 28 |
| FWD | 11 | Jeremy Doku | Manchester City (Premier League, England) | 23 | 41 |
| FWD | 26 | Matias Fernandez-Pardo | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 21 | 0 |
| FWD | 9 | Romelu Lukaku | Napoli (Serie A, Italy) | 33 | 124 |
| FWD | 14 | Dodi Lukebakio | Benfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal) | 28 | 29 |
| FWD | 19 | Diego Moreira | Strasbourg (Ligue 1, France) | 21 | 2 |
| FWD | 22 | Alexis Saelemaekers | AC Milan (Serie A, Italy) | 26 | 23 |
| FWD | 10 | Leandro Trossard | Arsenal (Premier League, England) | 31 | 50 |
Senegal World Cup Roster
Head coach: Pape Thiaw
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 23 | Mory Diaw | Le Havre (Ligue 1, France) | 32 | 2 |
| GK | 1 | Yehvann Diouf | Nice (Ligue 1, France) | 26 | 2 |
| GK | 16 | Edouard Mendy | Al Ahli (Pro League, Saudi Arabia) | 34 | 57 |
| DEF | 15 | Krepin Diatta | Monaco (Ligue 1, France) | 27 | 60 |
| DEF | 25 | El Hadji Malick Diouf | West Ham (Championship, England) | 21 | 18 |
| DEF | 3 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Al Hilal (Pro League, Saudi Arabia) | 34 | 103 |
| DEF | 14 | Ismail Jakobs | Galatasaray (Super Lig, Turkey) | 26 | 29 |
| DEF | 24 | Antoine Mendy | Nice (Ligue 1, France) | 22 | 6 |
| DEF | 19 | Moussa Niakhate | Lyon (Ligue 1, France) | 30 | 30 |
| DEF | 2 | Mamadou Sarr | Chelsea (Premier League, England) | 20 | 7 |
| DEF | 4 | Abdoulaye Seck | Maccabi Haifa (Premier League, Israel) | 34 | 21 |
| MID | 8 | Lamine Camara | Monaco (Ligue 1, France) | 22 | 41 |
| MID | 6 | Pathe Ciss | Rayo Vallecano (La Liga, Spain) | 32 | 29 |
| MID | 21 | Habib Diarra | Sunderland (Premier League, England) | 22 | 19 |
| MID | 5 | Idrissa Gueye | Everton (Premier League, England) | 36 | 131 |
| MID | 26 | Pape Gueye | Villarreal (La Liga, Spain) | 27 | 41 |
| MID | 22 | Bara Sapoko Ndiaye | Gambinos Stars (GFA, Gambia) | 18 | 1 |
| MID | 17 | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League, England) | 23 | 38 |
| FWD | 7 | Assane Diao | Como (Serie A, Italy) | 20 | 4 |
| FWD | 9 | Bamba Dieng | Lorient (Ligue 1, France) | 26 | 26 |
| FWD | 11 | Nicolas Jackson | Chelsea (Premier League, England) | 24 | 32 |
| FWD | 10 | Sadio Mane | Al Nassr (Pro League, Saudi Arabia) | 34 | 127 |
| FWD | 20 | Ibrahim Mbaye | Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France) | 18 | 10 |
| FWD | 12 | Cherif Ndiaye | Samsunspor (Super Lig, Turkey) | 30 | 12 |
| FWD | 13 | Iliman Ndiaye | Everton (Premier League, England) | 26 | 39 |
| FWD | 18 | Ismaila Sarr | Crystal Palace (Premier League, England) | 28 | 83 |
Where to watch Belgium vs. Senegal
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website
This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Here is how to watch the match in some of the other major territories:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| Canada | TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, RDS | TSN+, RDS app |
| UK | ITV One, STV Scotland | ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 2 | ZEE5 |
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