Belgium Edges Wales 4-3 in Thrilling World Cup Qualifier

Sports

In a pulsating World Cup qualifying match held on June 9, 2025, Belgium emerged victorious over Wales with a narrow 4-3 scoreline in a game packed with drama and goals. The fixture saw the Red Devils extend their strong start in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Wales put up a valiant fight in their bid to secure a spot at the global tournament.

The match began with Belgium asserting early dominance. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 15th minute. Just four minutes later, Youri Tielemans doubled the lead with a goal assisted by Maxim De Cuyper. The highlight for Belgium fans was Jeremy Doku’s stunning strike in the 27th minute, marking his first goal for the national team in over four years, ending a lengthy drought and reminding supporters of his electrifying form from Euro 2020[2][4].

Despite falling 3-0 behind, Wales mounted a spirited comeback. The Dragons clawed their way back into the game, scoring three goals before Belgium found a decisive fourth to seal the win. The encounter was a rollercoaster for both sets of fans, with seven goals scored in total, making it an entertaining spectacle for neutrals and bettors alike—anyone who backed the 'over' on a 2.5 goal line would have celebrated a hefty return[4].

Post-match reactions highlighted momentum swings as a key factor. Wales coach Craig Bellamy remarked, "We didn’t react after they got a penalty. They created momentum. Then, we got a penalty, they in turn did not react, and that allowed us to create momentum[3]."

With this result, Belgium strengthens its position at the top of the group standings, while Wales will need to regroup ahead of their next qualifying fixtures.