Garcia Names 26-Man Belgium Squad for 2026 World Cup

Lukaku In, Godts out as Garcia names Belgium World Cup squad

Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Lukaku and Axel Witsel will play a fourth straight World Cup. Belgium are in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

Rudi Garcia included Romelu Lukaku despite limited game time, but Ajax youngster Mika Godts missed out. Courtois, De Bruyne and Witsel also make the 26-man squad for World Cup 2026...

Rudi Garcia named Romelu Lukaku in Belgium’s World Cup squad despite the striker playing just one hour of competitive football this season. Ajax youngster Mika Godts missed out.

Lukaku turned 33 on Wednesday and hasn’t started for Napoli this campaign. He’s made seven appearances off the bench, scoring once at Verona in February, and has spent the last two months in Belgium recovering from a hamstring injury.

Garcia has still backed Belgium’s all-time top scorer for the tournament, which kicks off next month. Belgium are in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

Lukaku has 89 international goals and 124 caps, with his last appearance coming in the 4-3 win over Wales in World Cup qualifying last June.

Garcia also called up forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo as backup after the attacker confirmed his decision to represent Belgium earlier this week.

Fernandez-Pardo, 21, was born in Brussels to Italian and Spanish parents. He played for Belgium at youth level before switching to Spain in 2024, though he later declined a call-up to their U20 side. After a strong season with Lille, he’s been picked ahead of Lois Openda, who hasn’t featured regularly for Juventus.

Sporting defender Zeno Debast made the squad despite picking up an injury in training with the Portuguese club and doubts over his recovery. He’s been a regular under Garcia since the coach took charge.

Thibaut Courtois returning from injury is a boost for Belgium. Reports that Garcia would take four goalkeepers in his 26-man squad turned out to be wrong.

Garcia revealed the squad during Belgium’s lunchtime TV news. It will be a fourth straight World Cup for Courtois, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel.

Belgium's World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Racing Strasbourg)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De ‌Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona)

Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), ⁠Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi ⁠Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (Racing Strasbourg), Alexis ‌Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

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

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