This article forms part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a collaboration involving leading media outlets from the 48 nations that have qualified. Theguardian.com is set to provide daily previews from three countries in the lead-up to the tournament, commencing on June 11.
Head coach Rudi Garcia recognizes that the primary strength of the Red Devils lies in their offensive capabilities. Key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, and Romelu Lukaku each have the potential to impact the game significantly. However, the team’s defense represents a vulnerability, particularly following the retirement of former stars like Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, and Jan Vertonghen, with only goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remaining from that golden era. Garcia stated, “This is why I prefer to utilize four defenders instead of five. Deploying five would mean sacrificing an attacking player, which would be unfortunate.”
Typically, Garcia adopts a medium block strategy to bolster offensive efforts while alleviating pressure on the defenders. However, concerns arise regarding Lukaku’s fitness; he has only played a total of 64 minutes for Napoli this season and has not appeared for the national team due to injuries, returning to action only as a substitute in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Croatia, where he scored in stoppage time. Additionally, he has been mourning the loss of his father. As Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 90 goals, Lukaku will face the World Cup without having established match fitness.
Belgium’s schedule includes matches against:
- June 15 vs. Egypt, Seattle (12 PM local, 8 PM BST, June 16 5 AM AEST)
- June 21 vs. Iran, Los Angeles (12 PM local, 8 PM BST, June 22 5 AM AEST)
- June 26 vs. New Zealand, Vancouver (8 PM local, June 27 4 AM BST, June 27 12 PM AEST)
The qualification phase was relatively straightforward, with the team facing Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. Although Belgium remained unbeaten, the overall performance was inconsistent, resulting in three draws—two against North Macedonia and one against Kazakhstan. The team scored 29 goals across eight matches, highlighting their offensive prowess. Doku’s attacking capabilities and Courtois’ goalkeeping will be focal points heading into the tournament.
Since taking over in January 2025, Garcia has expressed his readiness for the challenge, stating, “I am prepared to embrace this opportunity. Learning will take time, even if we have little of it. It’s not just about trying; it’s about achieving, that’s my philosophy.” He emphasizes the importance of hard work and a strong mentality, urging players to wear the national jersey with pride and give their all for Belgium.
This marks Garcia’s debut as a national coach and his first World Cup appearance in North America. The 62-year-old took over from Domenico Tedesco and brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al Nassr, and Napoli. Garcia adopts a traditional approach, eschewing data-driven analysis while fostering a positive environment within the squad. “What matters to me is having a cohesive team on the pitch,” he remarked. “My experience has shown that is the way to achieve success.”
Jérémy Doku has emerged as a fan favorite. The 24-year-old Manchester City forward continues to develop, having recently improved his crossing ability alongside his already impressive speed, scoring crucial goals towards the end of the Premier League season. “I am aware of my strengths but I still need to enhance my statistics,” he acknowledged.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo was not initially included in Garcia’s plans until early May. The 21-year-old striker from Lille, who holds both Spanish and Belgian citizenship, had initially indicated a preference for representing Spain. However, due to uncertainties surrounding Lukaku’s fitness and Loïs Openda’s declining form at Juventus, the Belgian FA reached out again, prompting him to reconsider. Known for his speed, dribbling, and opportunistic play, he now finds himself on the World Cup roster. After transitioning from a winger to a striker under Lille’s coach Bruno Génésio, he scored eight goals and provided five assists in 29 league matches during the 2025-26 season.
Maxim De Cuyper, a 25-year-old left-back from Brighton, has also become vital for the Red Devils with his offensive contributions. In Lukaku’s absence, he has consistently found the net for the national team, starting every match when fit under Garcia, despite frequently starting as a substitute at Brighton.
Belgian fans are known for enjoying themselves and sharing a few drinks before matches. However, coordinating chants can be challenging due to the country’s linguistic diversity, which includes Dutch, French, and some German. As a compromise, fans often resort to singing in English, if any singing occurs at all.
Similar to many other EU nations, there is a degree of skepticism towards Donald Trump, particularly concerning his expressions. His previous remarks about Molenbeek, a Brussels suburb, as a “hellhole” were not well received. While the Belgian FA is unlikely to make any public statements regarding this, fans have expressed concerns over high ticket prices without any discussions of a boycott.
This report was authored by Ludo Vandewalle for Het Nieuwsblad.
