Belgium

Once considered among the top candidates for major honours, Belgium head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with far less hype surrounding the team.

After their ‘golden generation’ failed to add to the nation’s dusty trophy cabinet, a new-look De Rode Duivels side will look to finally win a piece of silverware against the odds this summer.

Read on as we offer a comprehensive guide to Belgium at the most prestigious international tournament.

Belgium at the 2026 World Cup

• Group: G
• Manager: Rudi Garcia
• Captain: Kevin De Bruyne
• Best finish: Third place (2018)
• Next match: Belgium vs Egypt

Belgium have found themselves in a favourable-looking Group G alongside Egypt (FIFA-ranked 29th), Iran (21st) and New Zealand (85th).

Despite being widely expected to advance to the knockout stages as group winners, the Belgians cannot afford to take anything for granted.

Looking to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt could challenge De Rode Duivels for top spot.

While uncertainty continues to surround Iran’s participation amid the raging Middle East crisis, Belgium should have little trouble dealing with New Zealand, who are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

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Belgium Squad

Player	Club	Position	Age	Caps	Goals
Thibaut Courtois	Real Madrid	Goalkeeper	34	107	0
Senne Lammens	Manchester United	Goalkeeper	23	2	0
Mike Penders	Strasbourg	Goalkeeper	20	0	0
Thomas Meunier	Lille	Defender	34	78	10
Timothy Castagne	Fulham	Defender	30	62	2
Arthur Theate	Eintracht Frankfurt	Defender	26	32	1
Zeno Debast	Sporting CP	Defender	22	26	1
Maxim De Cuyper	Brighton & Hove Albion	Defender	25	17	4
Brandon Mechele	Club Brugge	Defender	33	7	1
Koni De Winter	AC Milan	Defender	23	7	0
Joaquin Seys	Club Brugge	Defender	21	4	0
Nathan Ngoy	Lille	Defender	22	2	0
Axel Witsel	Girona	Midfielder	37	136	12
Kevin De Bruyne	Napoli	Midfielder	34	117	36
Youri Tielemans	Aston Villa	Midfielder	29	83	12
Amadou Onana	Aston Villa	Midfielder	24	27	1
Hans Vanaken	Club Brugge	Midfielder	33	32	7
Nicolas Raskin	Rangers	Midfielder	25	11	1
Diego Moreira	Strasbourg	Midfielder	21	2	0
Romelu Lukaku	Napoli	Forward	33	124	89
Leandro Trossard	Arsenal	Forward	31	50	11
Charles De Ketelaere	Atalanta	Forward	25	28	5
Jeremy Doku	Manchester City	Forward	24	41	7
Dodi Lukebakio	Benfica	Forward	28	29	5
Alexis Saelemaekers	AC Milan	Forward	26	23	2
Matias Fernandez-Pardo	Lille	Forward	21	0	0

Strongest XI / Predicted Line-up

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Belgium Manager

Brought in to pick up the slack after Belgium sacked Domenico Tedesco in January 2025, Rudi Garcia has steadied the ship and restored confidence within the squad following a string of dreadful results toward the end of Tedesco’s reign.

In addition to helping De Rode Duivels navigate the dreaded UEFA Nations League relegation play-offs at the start of his tenure, Garcia inspired his team to a near-flawless World Cup qualifying campaign.

Belgium finished top of their group without losing any of their eight matches, maintaining their unbeaten run since a 3-1 loss to Ukraine in the 62-year-old’s touchline debut.

However, Garcia’s fate rests on his team’s result in North America, with the former Roma and Napoli manager seeking his first major trophy since guiding Lille to Ligue 1 triumph in 2011.

Progressing beyond the group stage is the minimum requirement.

Tournament Stats

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Route to the Final

If Belgium win their group:

• Round of 32: Wednesday, July 1: Belgium vs Third-placed Group A/E/H/I/J
• Round of 16: Monday, July 6: Belgium vs Winner Group D / 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J
• Quarter-final: Saturday, July 11: Belgium vs Spain
• Semi-final: Wednesday, July 15: Belgium vs France
• Final: Sunday, July 19: Belgium vs Argentina

If Belgium are group runners-up:

• Round of 32: Friday, July 3: Belgium vs Group D runners-up
• Round of 16: Monday, July 6: Belgium vs Group J winners/Group H runners-up
• Quarter-final: Friday, July 10: Belgium vs Brazil
• Semi-final: Tuesday, July 14: Belgium vs France
• Final: Sunday, July 19: Belgium vs England

Key Players

Thibaut Courtois

Every rock-solid defence begins with a world-class goalkeeper, and few in Europe offer greater reliability than the Real Madrid shot-stopper, whose future at the Santiago Bernabeu is hanging in the balance.

Regardless, Courtois, who has earned 107 caps for his national team, remains Belgium’s undisputed number one and a commanding presence at the back, as he gears up for what could be his last World Cup appearance.

Youri Tielemans

As one of the longest-serving stalwarts, Tielemans has emerged as the beating heart of Belgium’s midfield during Kevin De Bruyne’s lengthy injury lay-off, alongside his clubmate, Andre Onana.

Tielemans, who featured in the last two World Cup editions, may have had a fringe role in the ‘golden generation,’ but he is one of the most influential figures in the current set-up.

Kevin De Bruyne

It’s been a rough season for the former Manchester City superstar, as injuries have hindered his impact, with the Napoli playmaker making just 16 Serie A appearances in 2025/26.

However, the 34-year-old has been a pillar of experience and leadership for Belgium and is expected to pull all the strings for Garcia’s team in this summer’s tournament.

Jeremy Doku

Replacing a player of Eden Hazard’s quality was always going to be an arduous task, but Doku brings a completely different dimension to Belgium’s attack, offering blistering pace, direct dribbling and unpredictability in wide areas.

Despite his undeniable quality, the Man City winger has often struggled for consistency, an issue he will be keen to address on the grandest international stage.

Romelu Lukaku

Like his Napoli teammate, Lukaku has endured an injury-hit campaign, struggling with a niggling hamstring problem all season. But if fit, Belgium’s all-time top scorer is likely to steal the spotlight in North America.

With all due respect to Lois Openda and Charles De Ketelaere, Lukaku’s experience, physical dominance and proven pedigree on the international stage make him a vital asset for this side.

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Belgium World Cup History

Flashes of brilliance interspersed with long periods of underachievement have defined Belgium’s World Cup history, with the nation often boasting talented generations repeatedly falling short of expectations.

De Rode Duivels’ most successful campaign came in 2018, when they won the bronze medal in Russia, beating England 2-0 in the third-place play-off showdown.

Belgium enjoyed another strong run in 1986, reaching the semi-finals in Mexico, which could be a good omen ahead of this summer’s tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They also progressed from the group stages at the only previous World Cup staged in the States, with Germany halting their 1994 run in the first knockout round.

That’s still better than they did in 2022, when they failed to make it out of the group stages, marking the end of Roberto Martínez’s long spell in charge.

Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A
1930	Group stage	2	0	0	2	0	4
1934	Round of 16	1	0	0	1	2	5
1938	Round of 16	1	0	0	1	1	3
1950	Did not enter
1954	Group stage	2	0	1	1	5	8
1958	Did not qualify
1962	Did not qualify
1966	Did not qualify
1970	Group stage	3	1	0	2	4	5
1974	Did not qualify
1978	Did not qualify
1982	Second group stage	5	2	1	2	3	5
1986	Fourth place	7	2	2	3	12	15
1990	Round of 16	4	2	0	2	6	4
1994	Round of 16	4	2	0	2	4	4
1998	Group stage	3	0	3	0	3	3
2002	Round of 16	4	1	2	1	6	7
2006	Did not qualify
2010	Did not qualify
2014	Quarter-finals	5	4	0	1	6	3
2018	Third place	7	6	0	1	16	6
2022	Group stage	3	1	1	1	1	2

FAQs

Has Belgium won the World Cup?

No. Belgium are still waiting for their first World Cup title. They have yet to contest the final.

Who is the Belgium manager?

Rudi Garcia. He has previously managed clubs in France, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

How did Belgium fare in the last World Cup?

Belgium failed to reach the knockout stages in Qatar, finishing third in Group F, behind Croatia and Morocco.

Who has made the most appearances for Belgium?

Jan Verthongen. The former Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur centre-back won 157 caps for his national team before hanging up his boots in 2025.

Who has scored the most goals for Belgium?

Romelu Lukaku. The robust striker has bagged 89 goals in 124 appearances for his country.