Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has named his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, where the Red Devils will face Egypt, IR Iran, and New Zealand in Group G. The tournament represents another chance for Belgium’s so-called “Golden Generation” to finally capture the major international trophy that has eluded them, with several veterans potentially making their final World Cup appearance.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid |
| Senne Lammens | Royal Antwerp |
| Mike Penders | Strasbourg |
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Thomas Meunier | Lille |
| Arthur Theate | Rennes |
| Brandon Mechele | Club Brugge |
| Zeno Debast | Anderlecht |
| Timothy Castagne | Fulham |
| Maxim De Cuyper | Club Brugge |
| Koni De Winter | Genoa |
| Nathan Ngoy | Club Brugge |
| Joaquin Seys | RB Leipzig |
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Axel Witsel | Atlético Madrid |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City |
| Amadou Onana | Everton |
| Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa |
| Hans Vanaken | Club Brugge |
| Nicolas Raskin | Rangers |
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Romelu Lukaku | Napoli |
| Leandro Trossard | Arsenal |
| Jeremy Doku | Manchester City |
| Charles De Ketelaere | Atalanta |
| Matias Fernandez-Pardo | Lille |
| Dodi Lukebakio | Sevilla |
| Alexis Saelemaekers | Roma |
| Diego Moreira | Strasbourg |
The Veterans: One Last Dance?
The squad features Belgium’s most experienced star names, all of whom have been part of the national team’s rise to prominence over the past decade:
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) – Now 34, the midfield maestro remains one of the world’s finest passers and playmakers. His ability to unlock packed defenses will be crucial against Egypt and Iran.
- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) – Widely regarded as the best goalkeeper of his generation. His return to form after injury is a massive boost for Belgium’s knockout aspirations.
- Romelu Lukaku (Napoli) – Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer with 89 goals from 124 caps. Despite a season hampered by injuries at Napoli, Garcia has given him the nod. Having been absent from the Belgium squad for nearly a year, his challenge will be to regain his form and clinical finishing in front of goal during the tournament. Lukaku remains a physical nightmare for defenders when fully fit.
- Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid) – Now operating as a composed centre-back or holding midfielder, Witsel brings intelligence, experience, and tactical discipline.
- Thomas Meunier (Lille) – The attacking right-back has been a key figure in Belgium’s system for years, providing width and crosses into Lukaku. (Source: fifa.com)
The New Generation: Youth and Surprises
While the veterans headline the squad, Garcia has also injected fresh blood, signaling a transition for Belgian football.
Mike Penders (Strasbourg) – The 20-year-old goalkeeper has been selected as third-choice behind Courtois and Senne Lammens. Penders has impressed in Ligue 1 with his shot-stopping and composure on the ball, and many believe he will be Belgium’s future No. 1.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille) – The biggest surprise of the squad announcement. Fernandez-Pardo had never been called up before, but his explosive performances on the wing for Lille this season forced Garcia’s hand. Crucially, the forward chose to represent Belgium despite also being eligible to play for Spain through his father. His pace, dribbling, and directness offer Garcia a wildcard option off the bench.
Other rising stars included:
- Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid) – The 19-year-old midfielder is already being compared to a young De Bruyne.
- Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven) – An electric winger who has lit up the Eredivisie and Champions League.
- Zeno Debast (Anderlecht) – A ball-playing centre-back comfortable in a high line.
The Missing Names
Notable omissions from the squad include:
- Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) – The midfielder has struggled for game time at club level and has been left out for younger options.
- Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) – A surprising exclusion given his versatility and Premier League experience. Garcia reportedly preferred Fernandez-Pardo’s raw pace.
- Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahçe) – With Lukaku and Openda ahead of him, the experienced forward misses out.
Garcia’s Philosophy: Team Spirit and Underdog Mentality
Speaking at a press conference where the squad was announced, Garcia laid out his vision for the campaign:
“The concept of team spirit was important; we needed to stick with a squad that had performed well in the qualifiers, taking into account how the players complement each other and striking a balance between experience and youth.”
He added:
“This squad is built around playing well and getting on well together. We need to distinguish between our objective and our ambition. Ambition knows no bounds; we all dream of going all the way.
“The objective is simply to finish top of the group and progress from the group stage; we’ll then see who we’re drawn against in the next rounds. We’re not favourites, but I prefer this underdog position, which doesn’t stand in the way of ambition.”
Garcia’s comments suggest he is managing expectations externally while demanding belief internally. Belgium have often crumbled under favouritism tag – most notably in 2018 (losing to France in the semi-finals) and 2022 (group stage exit). The underdog role may suit them.
Group G Preview
| Team | FIFA Ranking | Key Threat |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 4th | Kevin De Bruyne |
| Egypt | 35th | Mohamed Salah |
| IR Iran | 22nd | Mehdi Taremi |
| New Zealand | 95th | Chris Wood |
Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Thibaut Courtois |
| RB | Thomas Meunier |
| CB | Zeno Debast |
| CB | Axel Witsel |
| LB | Arthur Theate |
| CM | Kevin De Bruyne |
| CM | Amadou Onana |
| CM | Arthur Vermeeren |
| RW | Johan Bakayoko |
| ST | Romelu Lukaku |
| LW | Matias Fernandez-Pardo |
Belgische selectie voor het WK 2026
Belgium enter Group G as favourites on paper, but Garcia is wisely deflecting pressure. If Courtois stays fit, De Bruyne dictates play, and Lukaku rediscovers his scoring touch, the Red Devils have the tools to reach at least the quarter-finals. The emergence of Fernandez-Pardo and others adds unpredictability – a quality Belgium have sometimes lacked in tight knockout matches.
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