De Bruyne Becomes Belgium’s Hero As Wales Nearly Completes Dramatic Comeback

Kevin De Bruyne once again proved his star quality by scoring the decisive goal that gave Belgium a dramatic 4-3 win over Wales in the European zone qualification match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels.

The match showcased both Belgium’s attacking firepower and Wales’ resilience, ending in one of the most thrilling encounters of the qualification campaign so far.

Belgium flies high in the first half

Domenico Tedesco’s men made a dominant start, taking full control in the opening 45 minutes.

• Romelu Lukaku calmly converted a penalty after a foul in the box to open the scoring.

• Youri Tielemans doubled the lead with a low-driven shot from the edge of the area.

• Jeremy Doku, one of Belgium’s rising stars, added a third with a superb solo run that left Welsh defenders behind.

Belgium entered the break with a commanding 3-0 lead, and the home crowd expected a routine win.

Wales stages second-half resurgence

However, Wales, under interim coach Robert Page, came out fighting in the second half, refusing to go down without a battle.

• Harry Wilson converted a penalty just after the hour mark to reduce the deficit.

• Sorba Thomas scored from close range following a defensive lapse by Belgium.

• In the 82nd minute, Brennan Johnson shocked the Belgians with an equalizer, capping off a sensational Welsh comeback to make it 3-3.

Kevin De Bruyne to the rescue

Just when it looked like the visitors would escape with a point, Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City playmaker, stepped up.

In the 88th minute, he latched onto a loose ball just outside the box and rifled home a low shot that beat the Welsh keeper, sparking wild celebrations among the Belgian fans.

With the win, Belgium strengthens its position in the qualifying group, while Wales is left to rue a slow start that cost them dearly.