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Belgium have officially revealed their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2022, raising the question — can this be the tournament where their Golden Generation fulfills its long-awaited dream?

Manager Roberto Martinez has placed his faith in a familiar set of players, hoping they can finally deliver on their immense potential and bring the ultimate glory home from Qatar.

Belgium have been drawn in Group F, where they will face Morocco, Croatia, and Canada — a challenging set of fixtures that they must overcome to have a genuine shot at reaching the final on December 18.

For Belgium, the mission remains clear — nothing short of glory will do.

When Roberto Martinez took over from Marc Wilmots, who departed after Belgium’s Euro 2016 exit courtesy of Hal Robson-Kanu’s famous Cruyff turn and Sam Vokes’ towering header for Wales, he made his intentions clear: with this group of players, Belgium could win a World Cup.

His confidence resonated with the Belgian FA, and under his leadership, the Red Devils achieved their best-ever World Cup finish — third place in 2018 — highlighted by a stunning victory over Brazil. However, a narrow 1-0 semi-final defeat to eventual champions France prompted Martinez to adopt a more defensive, pragmatic approach for Euro 2020, aiming to protect an ageing backline. The plan backfired when Belgium were eliminated by Italy in the quarter-finals.

No team with such an experienced defence has won a major international tournament — perhaps only Italy themselves have come close. Against Italy at Euro 2020, Martinez made his first substitution after 70 minutes, leaving many to question his tactical flexibility. Was there a credible Plan B?

Just months later, in October 2021, Belgium suffered another setback, squandering a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute of their Nations League semi-final against France, eventually losing 3-2. They then fell 2-1 to Italy in the third-place play-off. Kevin De Bruyne admitted afterwards that Belgium “had to be a bit realistic about the team we have,” acknowledging concerns about the squad’s depth and balance.

Those words echoed the growing frustration surrounding results under Martinez. Although the manager described his first five years in charge as “a wonderful journey” that “set the stage for the new generation,” the reality was clear — Belgium’s immense talent pool had yet to yield any silverware.

Despite being ranked No.2 in the world since 2018, many of Belgium’s wins have come against lower-ranked teams. At decisive moments, Martinez’s tactical decisions have often been delayed or overly cautious.

The 4-1 home defeat to the Netherlands in June served as a wake-up call. The team’s defence looked weary, Eden Hazard struggled for fitness, and yet Martinez continued to rely on his veterans.

While the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ appears to be past its peak, Martinez remains loyal to his experienced core — a trait that could prove costly. Emerging talents like AC Milan’s Charles De Ketelaere have had minimal time to integrate. Thus, once again, the responsibility falls on Kevin De Bruyne and his senior teammates to justify years of promise and secure their legacy.

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg)

Defenders: Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Amadou Onana (Everton), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Lois Openda (Lens)

Disciplinary Records: One goal – Michy Batshuayi; Two yellow cards – Amadou Onana (suspended); One yellow card – Thomas Meunier, Yannick Carrasco, Leander Dendoncker

Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez continues to enjoy his dual role in Belgium, combining national team management with his responsibilities as the FA’s technical director. Charismatic, confident, and known for his player-friendly approach, Martinez has reached a pivotal stage — the time for excuses is over; Qatar will define his tenure.

Kevin De Bruyne narrowly edges Thibaut Courtois as Belgium’s standout performer — few nations can boast two world-class stars of such calibre. The Manchester City playmaker remains a delight to watch, with his extraordinary vision and pinpoint passing capable of unlocking any defence in seconds. Once reserved and quiet, the 31-year-old has grown into a true leader both on and off the pitch.

For the first time at a major tournament, national teams were allowed to bring 26 players to last summer’s European Championship as a precautionary measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIFA has now confirmed that the 26-player format will also apply for the Qatar World Cup, expanding the traditional 23-man roster to allow greater squad flexibility.