Belgium staged a strong comeback away to Wales, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 4-2 victory in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match. The result boosts Belgium’s position in Group J and applies more pressure on Wales in their push for qualification.
Wales struck first in Cardiff, with Joe Rodon heading home from a corner in the 8th minute to give the hosts an early lead. That advantage, however, did not last long. Belgium responded aggressively, and Kevin De Bruyne converted a penalty shortly thereafter—after a handball was confirmed on review via VAR—to equalise within ten minutes.
Not content to settle, Belgium pushed ahead before halftime. Veteran full back Thomas Meunier ran into space on a swift counterattack and slotted home to make it 2-1. The second half saw more drama. De Bruyne stepped up again, converting a second penalty in the 76th minute after another handball was penalised.
Wales were not ready to concede the fight. With play winding down, Nathan Broadhead pulled one back in the 88th minute to rekindle Welsh hopes. But just 60 seconds later, Leandro Trossard struck with a composed finish to restore Belgium’s two-goal cushion and seal the 4-2 win.
The victory moves Belgium to the top of Group J with 14 points, edging ahead of North Macedonia, who drew their match on the same day. Wales, meanwhile, remain in third place with 10 points and now face a more challenging path.
Belgium’s ability to respond under pressure was on full display. They weathered the early blow and imposed their quality in attack, particularly through De Bruyne’s composure from the spot and smart movement from Meunier and Trossard. Wales had their moments and capitalised on a late lapse, but could not sustain the momentum.
Looking ahead, Belgium can take a step closer to confirming direct qualification if they win their next fixture against Kazakhstan. Meanwhile Wales must regroup and salvage maximum points in their remaining matches to keep alive hopes of at least reaching the playoffs.
