Belgium produced the biggest comeback of the World Cup so far, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 with a dramatic penalty deep into extra time Wednesday and book a place in the round of 16.

Senegal looked set for victory after taking a 2-0 lead into the closing stages, but Belgium staged a stunning late rally. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back before Youri Tielemans struck in the dying moments of regulation to force extra time in the round-of-32 clash.

With a penalty shootout just seconds away, Tielemans completed the remarkable turnaround by converting from the spot in the 125th minute, scoring the latest goal in World Cup history.

“Being part of this comeback is a proud moment because I scored the last two goals to give the team the win today,” Tielemans said. “I’m very proud to be able to help the team score goals and get us over the line.”

The decisive moment came after Tielemans was brought down inside the penalty area with only moments remaining. Following a video review, the referee pointed to the spot despite furious protests from Senegal’s players, allowing the Belgian midfielder to seal a memorable victory.

“I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. “I’d rather not comment on the referee’s decision.”

The victory marked only the second time in the last 11 World Cups that a team trailing by two or more goals in a knockout-round match recovered to advance. Belgium also did so in a 3-2 victory over Japan in the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.

“Senegal deserved to win,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. “But I’m happy it was us.”

Many of the key players from Belgium’s team that finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia were instrumental in Wednesday’s victory. Lukaku, his country’s all-time leading scorer, came off the bench to get Belgium back into the match with a goal in the 86th minute, setting the stage for Tielemans to force extra time.

“It is a cruel loss because we played well,” Thiaw said. “We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However, a football match is not only 85 minutes. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that. We must congratulate Belgium as they progress.”

Belgium is back in the round of 16 for the third time in four World Cups. The team reached the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 but failed to advance from the group stage four years ago in Qatar.

The Belgians will next face the United States on Monday in Seattle.

Senegal appeared headed for the round of 16 for much of the match. Habib Diarra scored in the first half, and Ismaïla Sarr made it 2-0 early in the second. It was his fourth goal of the World Cup and one of the tournament’s finest. Sarr controlled a long ball from Moussa Niakhaté with his chest before firing past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois, playing in his fourth World Cup, then made three crucial saves to keep Senegal from extending its lead.

Senegal defender Krépin Diatta said Belgium should never have been allowed back into the match.

“It shouldn’t have happened. You have to defend your box and be the boss of your box,” he said. “We suffered, but we have to move on. It’s a pity.”

Lukaku said Belgium showed character with its late comeback.

“This Senegal side is one of the best teams in the tournament,” he said. “Technically, physically and tactically, it was really tough. But when we stepped up the intensity of our pressing, won the second balls and showed our team spirit, we won the match.”

Senegal arrived at the World Cup as Africa’s second-highest-ranked team behind Morocco. It won a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final on Jan. 18 against Morocco, but the result was later overturned by the Confederation of African Football because Thiaw had temporarily pulled his players off the field.

Senegal advanced to the World Cup knockout stage as one of the best third-place finishers after losses to France and Norway and a victory over Iraq.

“It’s the best African nation. It’s as simple as that,” Garcia said. “They showed that even against France they dominated the first half. They came through a difficult group. I would have preferred not to play against them.”

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Iran’s World Cup campaign has spilled into a political dispute after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin openly celebrated the team’s elimination, drawing a furious response from the Iranian Football Federation, which accused the United States of proving it was never a willing host.

Mullin made the remarks during a World Cup security briefing in Washington following Iran’s group-stage exit, saying he was pleased the team had left the country after weeks of heightened security and diplomatic tensions.

“I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back,” Mullin said. “I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave U.S. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”

He also said there “wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them” throughout the tournament.

The comments immediately sparked outrage in Iran, where football officials said the statement confirmed long-standing concerns that their delegation had been treated differently from every other nation at the tournament.

In a strongly worded statement, the Iranian Football Federation said it was unsurprised by Mullin’s remarks and argued they reinforced claims that Iran had never been genuinely welcomed to the World Cup.

“Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of U.S. officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks,” the federation said.

“These remarks once again demonstrate that U.S. officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organizing a global sporting event.

“The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team.”

The federation also referenced earlier complaints made by head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who had accused the United States of creating unnecessary obstacles throughout Iran’s stay.

“After our match against New Zealand, our head coach said that the United States did not want Iran to remain in this tournament because of the inhumane and unprofessional treatment our team experienced,” the statement added. “These latest comments only reinforce that belief.”

Iran’s participation in the World Cup had been uncertain for months after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran earlier this year dramatically escalated tensions between the countries.

Although FIFA allowed Iran to compete, the team operated under unusually strict travel arrangements.

Originally scheduled to establish its training base in Tucson, Arizona, Iran instead relocated to the Mexican border city of Tijuana before the tournament. The squad crossed into the United States only for matches before returning to Mexico, with authorities requiring the delegation to leave U.S. territory immediately after each game.

Iran played all three group matches in the United States, facing New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. The team drew each contest but narrowly missed a place in the round of 32 after finishing just outside the eight best third-place teams.

Their hopes ended in heartbreaking fashion against Egypt when a stoppage-time winner was ruled out for a marginal offside, leaving Iran as the ninth-ranked third-place finisher.

Throughout the tournament, Ghalenoei repeatedly criticized the conditions his players faced, calling Iran “the most oppressed” team at the World Cup.

Following the 1-1 draw with Egypt in Seattle, the veteran coach said the hosts had treated his squad “very unfairly.”

“It was the host that wasn’t very good to us,” Ghalenoei said. “I urge FIFA not to let hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future.”

He added that the United States’ “behavior towards us has been really terrible,” while praising his players for remaining competitive despite what he described as constant obstacles.

Asked about the travel restrictions, Mullin insisted they had been agreed upon before the tournament began.

“That was just an agreement we had,” he said. “The game was over, let them get back to the hotel, their base camp where they’re at. They’re more comfortable there.”

Mullin also claimed that “almost half” of Iran’s non-playing delegation had direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an assertion the Iranian federation dismissed as “completely unsupported by any evidence.”

As tensions escalated off the field, Iran sought to leave a different message on it.

Following their final matches, players and staff left handwritten notes in locker rooms thanking local communities while emphasizing dignity, fairness and respect.

After departing Tijuana, the delegation also left a letter expressing gratitude to the people of Mexico for their hospitality after welcoming the team when its original U.S. base was abandoned.

“True hosting is about respect, humanity and dignity,” the letter read. “We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana.”

The message questioned whether every nation had competed under equal conditions and argued that logistical decisions had undermined the tournament’s commitment to fair play.

“For us, fair play is not a slogan printed on advertising boards. It is the very identity of football,” the statement said.

“We leave this World Cup believing football fans around the world witnessed not only the hardship endured by Iranian football, but also the resilience of a nation that refused to trade its dignity, honor and values despite every challenge.”

FIFA has not publicly commented on Mullin’s remarks or Iran’s allegations regarding its treatment during the tournament.

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Three people died in Mexico City during massive World Cup celebrations after Mexico’s knockout win over Ecuador, authorities said Wednesday, as festivities turned deadly amid overcrowded streets near the capital’s iconic Angel of Independence.

The Mexico City Health Secretariat said the victims, a 44-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 48-year-old woman, died from suffocation after emergency responders were called to multiple locations along Paseo de la Reforma, where tens of thousands had gathered to celebrate.

Two were pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts at the scene, while the third died later in hospital.

The celebrations followed Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the Round of 32, a result that sent the co-hosts into the last 16 and ended a four-decade wait for a World Cup knockout win.

Streets across the capital filled quickly as fans poured into closed-off zones set up for public viewing and celebrations.

Images shared on social media showed jubilant crowds chanting and waving flags, but also paramedics treating unconscious fans on the ground as congestion intensified in tightly packed areas around the boulevard.

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged residents to celebrate with caution and responsibility as investigations into the circumstances continue.

Separately, violence also erupted during a public viewing in Yautepec in Morelos state, where armed attackers killed at least two people and injured several others during a live broadcast of the same match, according to local officials. Authorities said the attack occurred at a neighborhood football pitch crowded with families. Officials have not released a confirmed motive.

In another incident tied to recent celebrations, a man who drove into a crowd of fans in Cabo San Lucas following Mexico’s earlier win later died from injuries sustained after being beaten by bystanders, local officials said. It remains unclear whether the crash was intentional.

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Spain and Austria meet Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, with a last-16 spot and a potential showdown against Portugal or Croatia at stake.

Spain national football team enter the knockout stage with the tournament’s most controlled defensive profile so far, built on structure, possession security, and suffocating game management under Luis de la Fuente.

After an opening draw with Cape Verde, Spain settled quickly into rhythm, taking seven points from nine in Group H and finishing top without conceding a single goal.

The numbers underline the scale of their dominance. Spain have not conceded in North America during the tournament, have not faced a first-half shot on target, and have kept opponents to six shots or fewer in each of their last five World Cup matches.

That level of control is historically rare in the modern game, where even top sides usually absorb sustained pressure at some stage of a group campaign.

Their final group match, a 1-0 win over Uruguay, was less about attacking fluency and more about game control. Alex Baena provided the decisive moment, but Spain’s defensive unit dictated the tone throughout, shutting down transitions and limiting space in wide areas.

Spain’s unbeaten run now stands at 34 matches in all competitions, excluding penalty shootouts. That leaves them one match short of their national record and within reach of one of the longest streaks in international football history. The benchmark remains Italy national football team’s 37-match run under their Euro 2020-winning cycle, but Spain are moving into that conversation with consistency rather than spectacle.

The biggest question for Spain is not defensive stability but attacking availability. Injuries have reduced depth in wide areas, with Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz all either unavailable or uncertain. That shifts creative responsibility onto a narrower core of attackers and makes efficiency more important than volume.

Selection-wise, the midfield remains the main tactical lever. Mikel Merino started the Uruguay match, offering physical balance and aerial strength, but competition remains open. Fabian Ruiz provides progression through passing, Dani Olmo brings between-the-lines creativity, and Gavi offers intensity and pressing energy. The final choice shapes whether Spain lean toward control or vertical threat.

Austria national football team arrive in a completely different competitive posture, defined less by control and more by survival, timing, and resilience.

Under Ralf Rangnick, they scraped through Group J in dramatic fashion, finishing second behind Argentina after a chaotic final matchday.

Their qualification moment captured the unpredictability of their campaign. Against Algeria, Austria were seconds from elimination before Sasa Kalajdzic headed a 96th-minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw that flipped their fate. The goal ensured they progressed on goal difference and turned a near-exit into a historic escape.

That finish carried statistical significance. Austria became the first team in World Cup history to avoid defeat in a match after conceding in second-half stoppage time and still progress. It reflects a broader theme in their tournament: vulnerability in moments, but refusal to collapse under pressure.

The result also ends a 72-year absence from World Cup knockout football. Austria’s last real deep run came in 1954, when they reached the semifinals before falling to West Germany after a famous 7-5 win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals. Since then, their World Cup presence has largely been defined by group-stage exits and near misses.

Historically, this matchup leans heavily toward Spain. Austria’s last victory over La Roja came in a 1990 friendly, while their most recent meeting in 2009 ended in a 5-1 Spain win, highlighted by a double from David Villa. The gap since then reflects Spain’s broader rise as a dominant European force over the last decade-plus.

Austria’s current squad carries both experience and physical presence. Fitness concerns are limited, though veterans Marko Arnautović and David Alaba are managing minor discomfort after the Algeria thriller. Both are expected to play key roles, while Kalajdzic’s late heroics are unlikely to force a tactical reshuffle, with Rangnick expected to rely on established starters for structure.

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A summer World Cup in the United States was always likely to face extreme heat, but temperatures during this week’s knockout matches could create hazardous conditions for both players and fans.

A powerful heat dome is expected to blanket much of the central and eastern United States, driving heat index values, which combine air temperature and humidity, into the triple digits in some areas. Several World Cup host cities, including Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, all home to open-air stadiums, are forecast to experience well above-average temperatures.

“This week is going to be very, very hot,” said Geoff Cornish, assistant chief video meteorologist at AccuWeather. “This is going to be a significant heat wave, the likes of which we don’t see every single year.”

Fears over extreme heat at the tournament, being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, have been building for months. Scientists say human-caused climate change, driven largely by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, is making heat waves more frequent and intense. In the United States, extreme heat claims more lives each year than any other weather-related hazard, including hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Here’s a preview of how hot it will get, how cities, stadiums and FIFA have prepared for the threat, and how to stay cool.

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch for Philadelphia and surrounding areas starting Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening, with dangerously high heat index values, or “feels-like” temperatures, reaching up to 43.3 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day. As a result, FIFA’s Fan Festival in Philadelphia is shifting its hours this week, including Saturday’s watch party, which will end at the conclusion of the 1:00 p.m. match.

“It’s going to be sweltering and dangerous for anybody who’s spending a long period of time outside unprepared for the heat,” Cornish said.

An extreme heat warning is also in effect for Kansas City and other parts of west-central Missouri through Friday night, with heat index values as high as 40.6 to 43.3 degrees Celsius (105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit) expected.

The New York City area could see near-record heat index values of up to 42.8 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit), with little overnight relief. An extreme heat watch will be in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening.

“This level of heat can be deadly for those without adequate cooling and hydration,” the National Weather Service said, adding that it could also affect transportation and electrical and water systems.

The heat index in Boston and much of southern New England could climb to 43.9 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), with the extreme heat watch beginning Wednesday morning.

Players have medical staff, mandatory three-minute cooling breaks midway through each half and other heat safeguards. But even the most highly trained elite athletes are vulnerable to exertional heat illness.

This occurs when the body’s temperature rises too high because of intense physical activity in hot conditions. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping and dehydration. Exertional heat stroke requires immediate medical attention and is the third-leading cause of death among athletes.

Heat also lowers game intensity. Players adapt by reducing how much they sprint, the distance they cover and the risks they take. In a 2023 survey by World Athletics, the global governing body for track and field, 75% of responding athletes said climate change was negatively affecting their health and athletic performance.

For spectators, volunteers and workers, the greatest dangers may be outside the stadiums in fan zones, along transportation routes, in parking lots and during outdoor celebrations, where they are more likely to be exposed to the heat for hours. Many soccer fans also drink alcohol while watching the World Cup. Doing so in extreme heat increases the risk of dehydration.

Some cities and stadiums have increased access to shade, cooling areas and water for spectators and workers and said they will issue heat advisories to the public. Medical personnel also will be stationed at FIFA Fan Festivals and around stadiums during matches to treat heat-related illnesses.

Drinking plenty of fluids, seeking shade or air conditioning and staying out of direct sunlight can help protect against heat-related illness. If you have to be outside, wear light, loose-fitting clothing and limit strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day. Cooling fans or towels and icy drinks, such as slushies, can also help.

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink and hydrate before temperatures climb, said Maggie Aldousany, associate clinical professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences at the University of Miami.

“It’s really important to realize that it’s not enough to wait until you get thirsty,” she said. “Even if you’re going to one of the games in person or celebrating in your hometown with a backyard barbecue, make sure you’re thinking about hydration in the days leading up to it and not just waiting until the morning of the event.”

Spectators can check whether they are adequately hydrated by looking at the color of their urine. A light yellow color is generally a good sign.

People taking certain medications, older adults and those who are not acclimated to the heat are among those at greatest risk.

“If somebody realizes that they’re hot, but they’re not sweating, or if they begin to feel a little bit dizzy, those are signs that they really need to take a break, get inside, find some cooling and drink plenty of water,” Cornish said. “And if they really begin to experience significant symptoms, they need to seek medical attention right away.”

The former Barcelona striker and Poland’s all-time leading scorer, Robert Lewandowski, is poised to join Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.

The Fire confirmed Monday that they have agreed to a two-year deal with Lewandowski, pending visa approval and the completion of his international transfer certificate.

He arrives at a Chicago side sitting third in the Eastern Conference with 26 points from 14 matches at the league’s break for the World Cup.

The club, which opened a new training facility last year, is also pressing ahead with plans for McDonald’s Park, a football-specific stadium scheduled to open in 2028.

Lewandowski, who turns 38 on Aug. 21, could make his debut July 16 against Vancouver. He helped Barcelona win three La Liga titles in four seasons, including this year, and the Copa del Rey, Spain’s domestic cup competition. He scored 119 goals in 192 appearances for the club.

Lewandowski bid an emotional farewell at Camp Nou on May 17, when he was lifted into the air by teammates after a 3-1 victory over Real Betis. Players also lined up to applaud him as he walked toward the locker room.

He joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in a $52 million transfer in 2022. He scored 312 goals in 384 Bundesliga matches for Bayern and earlier club Borussia Dortmund, winning 10 Bundesliga titles.

Lewandowski has also played 167 international matches for Poland, beginning with a goal on his debut against San Marino in 2008 at age 20. His 89 goals are nearly twice as many as any other Polish player. He has qualified for the World Cup twice, reaching the round of 16 in 2022.

He has hinted at international retirement after Poland failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Poland’s next scheduled matches are in the Nations League in September.

Lewandowski will be a designated player, one of three roster spots MLS teams can use to exceed the salary cap. His contract runs through the 2027-28 season, covering the remainder of 2026 and the 2027 mini-season next spring before the league shifts to a summer-to-spring calendar to align with the European schedule.

“We set out to build a world-class club that inspires greatness, unites Chicago and wins championships. Robert embodies those values and represents the standards this city deserves: a champion and a competitor,” Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said. “His arrival reinforces our ambition to compete for trophies and raises the standards for the club to heights worthy of this city. We cannot wait to get to work with him and have Chicago see firsthand why he is among the most revered sporting icons in the world.”

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