World Cup 2026: Belgium banking on Romelu Lukaku as new generation seeks to make its mark

Belgium head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup hoping to build on the success of their celebrated “Golden Generation,” which reached the semi-finals of the 2018 tournament in Russia before finishing third.

Eight years later, many of the stars from that era have retired, struggled with injuries, or are no longer at their peak. However, experienced leaders such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois remain key figures for the Red Devils.

Brief Profile:

Belgium national team

Nickname: Red Devils

• Head coach: Rudi Garcia

• Captain: Youri Tielemans

• FIFA ranking (June 2026): 9

• Number of World Cup appearances: 14

The current squad features talented attacking players including Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard, Jérémy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, and Alexis Saelemaekers. Belgium also possess strong goalkeeping depth with Matz Sels and Senne Lammens available alongside Courtois. While there is quality in midfield through Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, and Nicolas Raskin, questions remain over whether they can consistently deliver on the biggest stage. The defence, meanwhile, is not as formidable as it once was.

Following the departures of Roberto Martínez and Domenico Tedesco, Belgium turned to Rudi Garcia in 2025. The French coach has steadied the team and enters his first major international tournament looking to guide Belgium beyond the group stage. Drawn alongside New Zealand, Iran, and Egypt, Belgium will be confident of progressing if they perform to their potential.

Qualifying Campaign

Belgium topped Group J in the European qualifiers, finishing ahead of Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. They collected 18 points from eight matches to secure their place at the World Cup.

World Cup History

Belgium have appeared in 14 World Cup tournaments. Their best performance came in 2018 when they secured a third-place finish in Russia.

Coach: Rudi Garcia

Rudi Garcia brings a wealth of experience from club football, having managed Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Napoli, and Al Nassr. His achievements include winning the Ligue 1 title and French Cup with Lille in 2010/11, reaching the Europa League final with Marseille, and guiding Lyon to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. He also led Roma to two second-place finishes in Serie A.

After a brief spell in charge of Saudi Arabia and coaching Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Garcia was appointed Belgium manager in early 2025. He was selected ahead of several high-profile candidates and has since brought greater stability to the national team. Belgium will be hoping his experience can help them make a deep run in North America.

Star Player: Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku remains Belgium’s greatest attacking threat and the country’s all-time leading scorer with 89 international goals. Despite dealing with injuries during the club season, the powerful striker continues to be the focal point of Belgium’s attack.

With the creativity of Kevin De Bruyne supplying him, Lukaku’s strength, movement, and finishing ability make him a player capable of deciding matches. If he arrives in top form, Belgium’s hopes of advancing deep into the tournament could rest heavily on his shoulders.

Predicted Line-up (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Courtois

Defenders: De Cuyper, De Winter, Debast, Castagne

Midfielders: Onana, Tielemans, De Bruyne

Forwards: Doku, Lukaku, Bakayoko

Belgium’s Group-Stage Fixtures

June 15 (7:00 pm): Belgium vs Egypt
June 21 (7:00 pm): Belgium vs Iran
June 27 (3:00 am): New Zealand vs Belgium

Head-to-Head Record

vs Egypt: 1 win, 1 defeat
vs Iran: Never met
vs New Zealand: never met

Belgium released its final squad for the 2026 World Cup:

The Class of ’26 for the #FIFAWorldCup 📚 pic.twitter.com/Vdb8WvMsI1

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) May 15, 2026