Kazakhstan denies Belgium World Cup dream with a 1-1 stalemate in Astana

Match Summary

Kazakhstan’s national team earned a 1-1 draw with Belgium in a European Qualifiers clash that kept the door open for a playoff spot ahead of the final round. The game was decided by a young breakthrough and a captain’s equalizer, with suspense lasting until the last minutes.

Key moments and heroics

Kazakhstan opened the scoring through their teenage striker Dastan Satbayev in the ninth minute, then Belgium captain Hans Vanaken equalized in the 79th. Kazakhstan’s goalkeeper Timirlan Anarbekov emerged as a standout in his second international appearance, making several crucial saves in the minutes surrounding 23, 44, 45+2 and 89, as his side defended resiliently despite finishing with ten men after Islam Shisnokov was sent off in the 79th.

Impact on the race to Qatar 2026

With the result, Belgium moved to 15 points, two behind North Macedonia and five ahead of Wales in third. Given Belgium’s favorable goal difference, a single point in the final group game against Liechtenstein could be enough to reach the finals for the fourth consecutive time and the 15th time in their history, depending on other results elsewhere.

Wales face a potential decider away to North Macedonia on Tuesday, should Belgium advance to the next stage. Belgium were without several key players, notably goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne, plus Romelu Lukaku, due to injuries, while manager Rudy Garcia was suspended from the bench.

Kazakhstan opened the scoring early after a defensive error by Artur Tyat allowed Satbayev, just 17, to race in on goal and slot home (9).

Leandro Trossard nearly leveled for the visitors, but Anarbekov parried the effort (23), and Nicolas Raskin’s header hit the crossbar (37) as Belgium pressed.

Anarbekov continued to repel Belgium before the break, notably denying a shot from Jules De Ketelaere after a pass from Jérémy Doku (44), followed by a late solo run from Timothée Castagne (45+2).

Belgium finally drew level three minutes after the restart when a sustained attack culminated in De Ketelaere crossing to the back post for captain Vanaken to volley home, his first for Belgium since March 2022.

Kazakhstan suffered a blow when Shisnokov received a red card after a VAR review for a foul on Doku (79). Anarbekov capped a memorable night with another key save from a Nicolas Raskin drive (89).

With one game left, the result keeps Belgium hopeful while Kazakhstan quietly dreams of pulling off another shock in a campaign filled with dramatic evenings.

Punchline time: Belgium’s playoff hopes are like their warmup act—loud in the stadium, a bit offbeat in the finale. And if optimism were a goal, Belgium would be predicting a hat trick by now. Punchline 2: In football as in comedy, timing is everything—tonight Kazakhstan proved you can steal the show with an early strike and a heroic goalkeeper, while Belgium learned to brace for a curtain call in the final act.