Belgium Defeated Poland in World Cup Qualification Play-off
A second-half goal from Elena Dhont secured a 1-0 first-leg victory for Belgium over Poland.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Soccer
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Belgium secured a narrow 1-0 win against Poland in the first leg of their World Cup qualification play-off. Elena Dhont scored the decisive goal following an assist from Tessa Wullaert.
Why it matters
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg, with the winner set to face Ireland for a place in the next stage of the qualification process.
Belgium earned a 1-0 win over Poland after Elena Dhont converted a through ball from Tessa Wullaert. Belgium's Lowiese Seynhaeve preserved the clean sheet by saving a penalty kick taken by Ewa Pajor in the 53rd minute.
The players
Elena Dhont
She is a professional soccer player who scored the winning goal for Belgium in the qualification match.
Tessa Wullaert
She is a key player for Belgium who provided the assist for the winning goal.
Ewa Pajor
She is a professional player for Poland who saw her penalty attempt saved during the match.
Lowiese Seynhaeve
She is the goalkeeper for Belgium who stopped the crucial penalty kick in the 53rd minute.
The details
Belgium's narrow victory keeps their qualification hopes alive as they head into the decisive second leg of the play-off. Meanwhile, Ireland dominated their own qualification match against Kazakhstan with an 8-0 scoreline, establishing their strength as they await the winner of the Poland-Belgium tie.
Timeline
October 9, 2026: Belgium defeated Poland 1-0 in the first leg.
Tuesday: The second leg match is scheduled to take place in Gdansk.
December 1, 2026: The first leg of the play-off against Ireland is expected to occur.
December 5, 2026: The second leg of the play-off against Ireland is expected to occur.
Season Trajectory
This victory keeps Belgium in contention to challenge Ireland, who previously defeated both Belgium and Poland in earlier stages of the qualification cycle. The winner of this play-off will move forward to meet Ireland in a high-stakes series that will determine the final playoff bracket standing.
The 1-0 result forces Poland to win the upcoming second leg in Gdansk to keep their tournament hopes alive. Belgium now holds the aggregate advantage, meaning a draw in the next game will be sufficient for them to advance to the play-off matches against Ireland.
The takeaway
Tournament play-offs are often defined by narrow margins and missed opportunities, such as the penalty saved in this match. Teams that successfully capitalize on defensive discipline, like Belgium, gain a critical psychological and statistical edge for the return leg.
Further reading
For more on international qualifying formats, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The42.
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