If you blinked, you might’ve missed something. Monday night in Cardiff was electric, chaotic, and ultimately triumphant for Belgium, who edged closer to World Cup qualification with a thrilling 4-2 win over Wales. And at the heart of it all? Kevin De Bruyne, the Napoli magician, who bagged two coolly taken penalties and orchestrated Belgium’s midfield like a maestro.
A Game of Twists and Turns
Wales came out swinging. Within eight minutes, Joe Rodon had the home crowd roaring after heading in from a Sorba Thomas corner. It looked like Craig Bellamy’s men might just pull off something special.
But Belgium didn’t flinch.
Just ten minutes later, De Bruyne stepped up after Ethan Ampadu’s handball, and slotted home the equalizer with ice in his veins. From there, the Red Devils took control. A sweeping move saw Thomas Meunier smash in Belgium’s second, and the visitors never looked back.
In the second half, Jordan James gifted Belgium another penalty — and De Bruyne, ever the professional, converted again. Nathan Broadhead gave Wales a glimmer of hope with a late strike, but Leandro Trossard extinguished it moments later with a blistering counterattack finish.
With this win, Belgium leapfrogs North Macedonia to lead Group J, sitting one point clear with two games to go. Wales, meanwhile, are four points adrift and staring down the barrel of a playoff route.
Wales, for all their early fire, couldn’t maintain the intensity. Defensive lapses and two penalties conceded told the story.
Belgium’s unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers now stretches to 25 matches. With De Bruyne pulling the strings, they look poised to make a deep run in 2026. For Wales, it’s back to the drawing board — and possibly the playoffs.
Next up: Belgium faces Kazakhstan, while Wales must regroup for a must-win clash against North Macedonia.