World Cup 2026: Rudi Garcia says Belgium must beat Senegal to keep World Cup dream alive

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia says his side must overcome Senegal if they are to continue their pursuit of World Cup glory, describing the African champions as a formidable opponent ahead of their last-16 meeting.

Belgium face Senegal on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. GMT for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, with Garcia insisting the knockout stage leaves no room for mistakes.

While Belgium topped their group, the coach believes their toughest test yet lies ahead against a side he has studied closely.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Garcia said his players had achieved their first objective by finishing top of the group, but stressed that their focus had now shifted entirely to Senegal.

“We wanted to finish first in our group and we achieved that. Of course, we would have liked to win more. Now it’s on to the round of 16. Senegal is a great team. But we also have to beat them if we want to go far in the World Cup.”

The Belgian manager acknowledged the quality of the opposition and warned that every remaining match in the tournament would be fiercely contested.

Garcia expects fine margins

Garcia said his coaching staff had concentrated their preparations on understanding Senegal’s strengths and identifying areas where Belgium could gain an advantage.

He explained that previous matches were no longer relevant, with all attention now fixed on the challenge presented by the Lions.

“Every team has its problems. There are no easy matches anymore. I’ve said it many times already. We didn’t analyze the matches against Germany or the Netherlands too much, but we focused on Senegal, on their strengths and weaknesses. That was our priority. We had to exploit their weaknesses and limit their strengths as much as possible.”

The Belgian coach believes the outcome could be decided by small details, underlining the importance of discipline and tactical execution against one of Africa’s strongest teams.

Tactical approach remains open

Garcia also refused to reveal exactly how Belgium would line up, suggesting his side has several tactical options available while hinting that the system which has brought recent success remains his preferred choice.

“Anything is possible. The advantage of the 3-5-2 is that the opponent knows we perform well in this system. But we’re unbeaten in sixteen matches. We have to maintain what works. We’re going to keep what works. And if we’re at our best, we can beat anyone.”

The Belgium coach also highlighted what he believes could be a slight advantage for his team, pointing to improved weather conditions and the familiarity of the venue.

“It’s not as hot anymore, a bit cooler. The conditions are much better than in Egypt, for example, where the heat was difficult to bear. We already know the pitch here in Seattle and we don’t need to travel. That’s a slight advantage.”

Winner moves into the quarter-finals

Belgium and Senegal meet with a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake, as Garcia hopes his unbeaten side can maintain its momentum and take another step towards the latter stages of the tournament.