Belgium stopped in Kazakhstan: World Cup qualification postponed

It was supposed to be World Cup 2026 qualification day for Belgium, but a tenacious Kazakhstan stopped the Red Devils at 1-1 in the match played Saturday in Astana, forcing a postponement at least until Tuesday of the Belgians’ celebration, who will have to win against lowly Liechtenstein (zero points in six matches, no goals scored) to fend off the’axe of North Macedonia and Wales.

On the field from 1′ with a couple of elements committed to the Italian league (AC Milan defender Koni De Winter and Atalanta trequartista Charles De Ketelaere), Belgium conceded at the first opposing lunge: it was Kairat striker Dastan Satpaev who scored the Kazakhstan lead, a goal to which the guests struggled to react, at least at the beginning.

Claude Fichaux, Rudi Garcia’s deputy (absent due to disqualification), put his faith in the same eleven in the second half and was immediately repaid: it was on 3′ in fact, when Vanaken took advantage of Castagne’s assist to get past Anarbekov and make it 1-1. It looks like the prelude to a brilliant comeback but, in fact, the score will not unlock again, despite 20 total attempts and a red light at 77′ for Chesnokov, which leaves Kazakhstan in ten.

So it ends 1-1, so to get its fourth consecutive World Cup qualification Belgium will have to wait until Tuesday, keeping an eye on North Macedonia and Wales. Kazakhstan, on the other hand, completed its eight matches by scoring as many points, six of which came against Liechtenstein and the other two thanks to draws with North Macedonia and Belgium.