Belgium will have to claw back a deficit in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring against Emam Ashour.
Rudi Garcia’s men are placed in Group G alongside Egypt, New Zealand and Iran and will try to progress to the knockouts for the fourth edition in a row.
The last time the side overturned a deficit to win the World Cup was in the 2018 edition in Russia, in a famous round of 16 victory over Japan.
The Red Devils fell behind early in the second half due to a goal by Genki Haraguchi. Takashi Inue then scored four minutes later to double Japan’s lead.
Belgium then scored three in 21 minutes, including a 95th-minute counter-attack winner from Nacer Chadli to complete the rise and advance to the quarter-finals.
Published on June 16, 2026
