Belgium vs Senegal Confirmed Lineups & Formations Today Predictions World Cup 2026

Chris Beck

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Belgium vs Senegal Confirmed Lineups & Formations Today Predictions World Cup 2026

Belgium vs Senegal: Confirmed Lineups & Formations Today | World Cup 2026 Round of 32

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✅ CONFIRMED LINEUPS · WORLD CUP 2026 · ROUND OF 32 · TODAY · KICKOFF 4PM ET

Today, Wednesday July 1 2026 · 4:00 PM ET · Lumen Field, Seattle · FOX

Belgium vs Senegal: Confirmed Lineups & Formations

Official XIs · The Lukaku benching shock · Player roles · Betting impact

⚠️ Lukaku Benched, De Ketelaere Starts As False-9 · Ndiaye Gets First WC Start Over Camara for Senegal

Must be 21+ · Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER · FanDuel Sportsbook

⚡ LINEUPS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED TODAY · BELGIUM: COURTOIS, CASTAGNE, MECHELE, THEATE, DE CUYPER, TIELEMANS (C), VANAKEN, DOKU, DE BRUYNE, TROSSARD, DE KETELAERE — ROMELU LUKAKU NOT IN THE STARTING XI · SENEGAL: DIAW, DIATTA, CISS, NIAKHATE, JAKOBS, DIARRA, I.GUEYE (C), P.GUEYE, NDIAYE, SARR, MANE — CAMARA BENCHED, NDIAYE MAKES HIS FIRST WORLD CUP START

FIFA World Cup 2026 · Round of 32 · Confirmed Ahead of Kickoff Today

🇧🇪 Belgium vs Senegal 🇸🇳 · Today · 4PM ET · Lumen Field Seattle · FOX

Belgium To Qualify -182 · Senegal +148 · BTTS Yes -156

→ R16 if advance

⚠️

The Headline Surprise: Lukaku Is Not Starting

Every prop board built around this match today — including the ones we produced earlier — treated Romelu Lukaku as the clear goalscorer favorite. The confirmed lineup shows Rudi Garcia going with Charles De Ketelaere as a false-9 instead, with Lukaku held on the bench. This is precisely the scenario RotoWire and several other previews flagged as Belgium's biggest risk: "they look toothless when De Ketelaere plays as a false nine and far more dangerous once Romelu Lukaku and his proper center-forward runs are on the pitch." If this game needs unlocking, Lukaku is now an impact-sub option, not the starting focal point.

🇧🇪 Belgium — Confirmed Starting XI

⚠️ Confirmed Formation: 4-2-3-1 With De Ketelaere at False-9, Not Lukaku

Rudi Garcia's confirmed XI answers the tournament-long tactical question the "wrong" way for anyone expecting Lukaku to lead the line. De Ketelaere starts centrally, with Doku and Trossard providing width around Kevin De Bruyne. Youri Tielemans wears the captain's armband and partners Hans Vanaken in a double pivot. Zeno Debast remains sidelined, with Arthur Theate and Brandon Mechele retained at centre-back.

🇧🇪 BELGIUM · CONFIRMED 4-2-3-1 · GARCIA

De Ketelaere ⚠️

False-9 · Not Lukaku · +240 AT

Doku

RW · +300 AT

De Bruyne ⭐

CAM · +250 AT

Trossard

LW · +280 AT

Vanaken

Tielemans ©

CM · Captain · +550 AT

Castagne

RB · +1600 AT

Theate

Mechele

CB · +1400 AT

De Cuyper

LB · +500 AT

Courtois

Confirmed substitutes

Romelu Lukaku ⚠️ · Amadou Onana · Alexis Saelemaekers · Dodi Lukébakio · Nicolas Raskin · Axel Witsel · Thomas Meunier · Koni De Winter · Diego Moreira · Joaquin Seys · Nathan Ngoy · Mike Penders (GK) · Senne Lammens (GK) · Matías Fernández-Pardo

🇧🇪 Belgium Confirmed XI — Roles, Notes & Betting Impact

Thibaut Courtois GK

Confirmed as predicted · Solid throughout the group stage

Timothy Castagne RB

Confirmed as predicted

Arthur Theate CB

Confirmed, Debast remains sidelined

Brandon Mechele CB

Confirmed as predicted · +1400 anytime

Maxim De Cuyper LB

Confirmed as predicted · Takes some free kicks, +500 anytime

Hans Vanaken CM

Confirmed as predicted

Youri Tielemans CM · Captain · Confirmed

Wears the armband today · Takes penalties, long-range threat at +550 anytime

Jérémy Doku RW · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted · +300 anytime

⭐

Kevin De Bruyne CAM · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted · Now the shortest-priced confirmed STARTER on the whole goalscorer board at +250, with Lukaku out of the XI

Leandro Trossard LW · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted, off his brace vs New Zealand · +280 anytime

⚠️

Charles De Ketelaere False-9 · Confirmed over Lukaku

Starts centrally instead of Romelu Lukaku — the single biggest confirmed lineup surprise across today's Round of 32 slate. Yet to score this tournament

🇸🇳 Senegal — Confirmed Starting XI

⚠️ Confirmed Formation: 4-3-3, With Ndiaye's First WC Start

Pape Thiaw's confirmed XI answers two of the three real pre-match questions: Édouard Mendy does not return (Mory Diaw continues in goal), and Iliman Ndiaye gets his first World Cup start alongside Sarr and Mané up front. The third — whether Kalidou Koulibaly returns to the back line — is also resolved: he doesn't. Pathé Ciss starts at centre-back rather than the widely predicted Abdoulaye Seck, and Idrissa Gueye captains the side, partnering both Habib Diarra and Pape Gueye in a three-man midfield that leaves Lamine Camara on the bench.

🇸🇳 SENEGAL · CONFIRMED 4-3-3 · THIAW

Ndiaye ⚠️

First WC start · +330 AT

Sarr ⭐

3 group-stage goals · +300 AT

Mané

All-time top scorer · +270 AT

Diarra

I. Gueye ©

DM · Captain · +1300 AT

P. Gueye

MF · Not Idrissa · +700 AT

Diatta

RB · +850 AT

Ciss ⚠️

CB · Over Seck

Niakhaté

CB · +2000 AT

Jakobs

Diaw

GK · Mendy still out

Confirmed substitutes

Lamine Camara ⚠️ · Kalidou Koulibaly · Nicolas Jackson · Abdoulaye Seck · Ibrahim Mbaye · El Hadji Malick Diouf · Pape Matar Sarr · Bamba Dieng · Cherif Ndiaye · Assane Diao · Mamadou Sarr · Bara Sapoko Ndiaye · Yehvann Diouf (GK) · Antoine Mendy

🇸🇳 Senegal Confirmed XI — Roles & Betting Notes

Mory Diaw GK

Confirmed, continuing for injured Édouard Mendy, who isn't even in the matchday squad today

Krépin Diatta RB

Confirmed as predicted · +850 anytime

⚠️

Pathé Ciss CB · Confirmed over Seck

Starts instead of Abdoulaye Seck, who was the more widely predicted option after his role in the Iraq win

Moussa Niakhaté CB

Confirmed as predicted · +2000 anytime

Ismail Jakobs LB

Confirmed as predicted, over Malick Diouf

Habib Diarra CM · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted, starts ahead of Lamine Camara

Idrissa Gueye DM · Captain · Confirmed — not Pape Gueye

Confirmed captain, 36, 130+ caps · Defensive anchor tasked with denying De Bruyne space

✅

Pape Gueye MF · Confirmed starter — not Idrissa Gueye

Starts today after scoring twice off the bench vs Iraq · +700 anytime

⚠️

Iliman Ndiaye FW · Confirmed, first WC start

Gets his first World Cup start over a rotation option — resolves one of the three key pre-match questions · +330 anytime

⭐

Ismaïla Sarr FW · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted · Leads Senegal with 3 group-stage goals · +300 anytime

Sadio Mané FW · Confirmed

Confirmed as predicted · All-time leading scorer, still without a goal this tournament · +270 anytime

Lineups officially confirmed today via independent team-sheet reporting, cross-checked across two sources · Confirmed ahead of kickoff

📊 Confirmed XIs — Side by Side

🇧🇪 Belgium

Stat

Senegal 🇸🇳

4-2-3-1

Formation

4-3-3

Rudi Garcia

Manager

Pape Thiaw

Courtois

Diaw

Castagne · Theate · Mechele · De Cuyper

Def

Diatta · Ciss ⚠️ · Niakhate · Jakobs

Mid

Doku · De Bruyne · Trossard

Attack

Ndiaye ⚠️ · Sarr · Mané

De Ketelaere (false-9)

Lone ST

—

Lukaku benched for De Ketelaere

Notable

Camara benched, Ndiaye starts

💡 Lineup Betting Impact — Now Confirmed

🚨 LUKAKU — reconsider entirely, he's not starting

Every goalscorer prop built around Lukaku's +155 anytime price assumed a starting role. He's now a bench option only — a completely different risk profile. Do not bet his anytime price expecting a full 90 minutes of opportunity.

⚠️ DE KETELAERE — now the confirmed central striker, but yet to score

His +240 price now reflects a confirmed starting role at the false-9, but he's without a goal this tournament in that exact role. Multiple previews specifically flagged this pairing (De Ketelaere starting, no goal) as Belgium's biggest attacking risk.

✅ DE BRUYNE — now Belgium's shortest-priced confirmed starter

With Lukaku out of the XI, De Bruyne's +250 anytime price is the shortest belonging to a confirmed starter on the entire Belgian side — worth a second look as the new de facto favorite among starters.

✅ SENEGAL — Sarr, Mané, Ndiaye props all confirmed accurate

All three confirmed starting exactly as predicted. Pape Gueye's confirmed start (+700) also strengthens after his double off the bench against Iraq.

FanDuel Sportsbook · Belgium vs Senegal · Today · Kickoff 4PM ET · Lumen Field Seattle

Bet With Confirmed Lineups on FanDuel Now

De Bruyne AT +250 · Belgium To Qualify -182 · BTTS Yes -156

Bet Now

Confirmed lineups · Belgium (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Youri Tielemans (captain), Hans Vanaken; Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard; Charles De Ketelaere · Substitutes: Romelu Lukaku, Amadou Onana, Alexis Saelemaekers, Dodi Lukebakio, Nicolas Raskin, Axel Witsel, Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Diego Moreira, Joaquin Seys, Nathan Ngoy, Mike Penders, Senne Lammens, Matias Fernandez-Pardo · Senegal (4-3-3): Mory Diaw; Krepin Diatta, Pathe Ciss, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs; Habib Diarra, Idrissa Gueye (captain), Pape Gueye; Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Sadio Mane · Substitutes: Lamine Camara, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nicolas Jackson, Abdoulaye Seck, Ibrahim Mbaye, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Pape Matar Sarr, Bamba Dieng, Cherif Ndiaye, Assane Diao, Mamadou Sarr, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Yehvann Diouf, Antoine Mendy · Selection surprises: Romelu Lukaku does not start, Charles De Ketelaere plays as false-9 instead; Iliman Ndiaye earns his first World Cup start over Lamine Camara for Senegal; Pathe Ciss starts at CB over Abdoulaye Seck · Edouard Mendy remains out, not in the matchday squad · Lumen Field, Seattle WA · Today 4PM ET · FOX/Telemundo · Winner advances to Round of 16 · Must be 21+ · Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER

See the confirmed lineups and formations for today's World Cup match between Belgium and Senegal. New customers can get 250/1 odds on your $1 Team USA to Reach the Round of 16 Wager. You can get up to $250 in CASH if your $1 bet wins! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today's other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.

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