New Delhi: Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has announced a 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday, May 15. The global tournament is set to start on June 12 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Star striker Romelu Lukaku has been included in Belgium’s World Cup squad, despite struggling with injuries this season. He has played just one hour of competitive football and has not started for Napoli this season.
The 33-year-old striker has made seven substitute appearances and scored just one goal against Verona in February. Lukaku has been in Belgium for the last two months recovering from a hamstring injury.
Despite Lukaku’s minimal game time this season, coach Rudi Garcia has gambled on the striker’s fitness for the FIFA World Cup 2026, citing his role as the country’s leading scorer with 89 goals from 124 caps.
Belgium will compete in Group G of the 48-team tournament and will face Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. Lukaku’s last international appearance was in a 4-3 home victory against Wales during World Cup qualification last June.
The head coach has also called up 21-year-old promising striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo as cover. He has previously played for Belgium at the junior level, but initially chose to play for Spain in 2024. He was born in Brussels to Italian and Spanish parents.
But Matias declined an under-20 call-up and now has committed his international future to Belgium. The timely return of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from injury provides a huge boost for Belgium. This will be a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance for key figures like Courtois, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel.
Belgium’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
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