Belgium talisman Kevin De Bruyne once said the Red Devils’ meetings with Wales were boring after the two nations met nine times in a decade. But when they came face-to-face in a World Cup 2026 qualifier at the King Badouin Stadium on Monday, the match was anything but boring as a late winner, courtesy of De Bruyne, broke Wales’ hearts after the visitors had launched a stunning comeback.
The hosts were 3-0 up within half an hour, but there was a huge amount of controversy in the first, as a four-minute VAR check eventually gave Belgium a penalty after Brennan Johnson had been pulled up for a handball. It was very harsh and there appeared to be no intent or unnatural movement, but the decision went in favor of the Red Devils, and Romelu Lukaku slid home the spot-kick. That was on 15 minutes and four later Youri Tielemans doubled the lead with a clever finish. Jeremy Doku, who was a handful all night, often double marked by the Welsh, shook off attention before cutting in and firing home the third.
Wales grabbed a lifeline in the seventh minute of first half stoppage time when Mats Sels fouled Chris Mepham, and Harry Wilson converted the penalty to make it 3-1. The away end celebrated, and the majority of the 33,000 crowd suddenly became edgy early in the second half, when Sorba Thomas got on the end of a Wilson cross to close the deficit to a single goal. And there was mayhem among the Welsh followers when Johnson nodded in a leveller after more good work from Wilson. It was another great moment for the midfielder who has starred for Tottenham Hotspur this season as a key man in the Londoners’ successful Europa League campaign.
Lukaku had a deflected strike ruled out but, with just two minutes left on the clock, Tielemans crossed and De Bruyne converted to give Belgium their first win of the campaign and inflict a first defeat on Wales.
England booed off after struggling to see off Andorra
The SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds will inevitably pitch Thomas Tuchel’s England as one of the big European hopes, alongside the likes of Spain, France, and Germany, and they have started their qualification campaign with three wins from three, but that isn’t half of the story.
The Three Lions were booed off at halftime and again at full time as they floundered against Andorra, the 173rd best team in the world, according to the FIFA World Rankings, and a nation with a population of 85,000, a similar number to Lancashire market town Burnley. But while every man, woman, and child of Andorra could comfortably fit inside the Wembley Stadium, Tuchel’s men couldn’t score against them until the second half.
Bundesliga winner Harry Kane didn’t exactly spare England’s blushes when he poached the winner and the only goal of the game on 50 minutes. Even with 83 percent possession, England looked lackluster, one-paced, and bereft of ambition. But a win’s a win, and Tuchel has a 100 percent record.
In other World Cup 2026 news, a Croatia blitz blew the Czech Republic away to close the gap at the top of Group L to three points. The Czechs started the game on nine points from three games, six ahead of Croatia who had won their only game so far. After Andrej Kramaric headed Croatia into a halftime lead, Tomas Soucek levelled for the Czechs. But a Luka Modric penalty opened the floodgates, as Ante Budmir converted a second spot-kick, Ivan Perisic made it 4-1, and Kramaric added his second and Croatia’s fifth.
The other eye-catching result came in Norway where Erling Haaland scored the third in a 3-0 win over Italy. The Azzurri are in danger of missing the World Cup finals for the third time in succession, and that would be shameful for the four times winners.
Uzbekistan and Jordan make history
While 2006 World Champions Italy are uncertain to qualify for the 2026 showcase finals, there will be a first ever appearance for two minnows of the world game, as Uzbekistan and Jordan have both booked their place. Uzbekistan secured their spot thanks to a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, and they join Iran from Group A of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Jordan also booked their place for the first time in their history in spectacular fashion with a 3-0 victory over Oman, as Selangor striker Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick. These two ambitious nations will have no expectations when they head to North America next year, but there will be great pride in Uzbekistan and Jordan as Asian football breaks through a glass ceiling.
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