Maignan’s penalty save and Saelemaekers’ late strike seal World Cup progress

France and Belgium secured their spots in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with contrasting performances on Monday night. In Foxborough, France defeated Norway 4-1 in Group I, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick and Désiré Doué adding a late goal. Mike Maignan made history as the first AC Milan goalkeeper to save a penalty at a World Cup, denying Jørgen Strand Larsen from the spot when the score stood at 3-1 in the second half. Adrien Rabiot was an unused substitute, rested ahead of the next stage. France finished Group I with a perfect record, setting up a Round of 32 clash with Sweden in East Rutherford. The match is scheduled for Tuesday 30 June at 23:00 CEST at the venue that will also host the World Cup final on 19 July. The French side’s dominance was underlined by their four AC Milan players involved in the tournament, including Maignan’s pivotal intervention. In Vancouver, Belgium secured top spot in Group G with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand. Leandro Trossard scored twice, while Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku also found the net. Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring deep into stoppage time, just after midnight in Brussels on his birthday, marking his first World Cup goal and his third senior international goal. AC Milan’s Saelemaekers became the latest Rossoneri player to deliver a memorable moment in the tournament.

VAR decision robs Iran of late winner in World Cup showdown

Belgium’s progression came after draws against Egypt and Iran, demonstrating their resilience in the group stage. Koni De Winter remained on the bench throughout the match against New Zealand. The Red Devils will face one of the best third-placed teams in the Round of 32, with potential opponents including South Korea, Senegal, Algeria, or Austria. Their next fixture is scheduled for Wednesday 1 July at 22:00 CEST in Seattle. Both nations now prepare for the knockout phase, with France and Belgium showcasing contrasting paths to the Round of 32. France’s clinical efficiency contrasted with Belgium’s late surge, yet both secured their places with performances that highlighted key individual contributions.