Belgium Names World Cup 2026 Squad As De Bruyne And Lukaku Return From Injuriesnewsline24

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are both selected in Belgium’s 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, despite current injuries at Napoli. De Bruyne is recovering from an eye issue, while Lukaku has a hip problem, yet both are expected to feature at a third World Cup finals.

Head coach Rudi Garcia, who will be the fourth non-Belgian to lead the team at a World Cup, has balanced experience and new faces in the group. Belgium prepare for a 15th appearance at the tournament, still seeking a first title despite regular qualification from Europe.

Garcia has kept faith with several Premier League-based players. Jeremy Doku of Manchester City, Leandro Trossard of Arsenal, Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa and Amadou Onana, also at Aston Villa, all make the list. Their inclusion maintains a strong English top-flight presence in the Belgium 2026 World Cup squad.

De Bruyne and Lukaku remain central figures. Lukaku is Belgium’s joint-top World Cup scorer with five goals, matching Marc Wilmots. De Bruyne is the joint-top provider with four assists, level with Eden Hazard. Both records highlight their influence as Belgium shape ambitions for the Belgium 2026 World Cup squad.

Some notable players miss out. Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia is excluded after another injury-affected season. Lois Openda, with just one goal in 24 Serie A matches for Juventus in 2025-26, is also left out. Garcia’s decisions underline competition for places in the Belgium 2026 World Cup squad.

Younger talents Mika Godts and Arthur Vermeeren are not selected either. Godts produced impressive numbers for Ajax, directly contributing to 29 league goals, with 17 goals and 12 assists in 31 Eredivisie fixtures. Despite such output, Godts and Vermeeren must wait for opportunities beyond this Belgium 2026 World Cup squad.

The Belgian federation confirmed the group with an announcement on social media.

Full list for Belgium 2026 World Cup squad

The Belgium 2026 World Cup squad covers three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards, combining long-serving internationals with emerging players from major European leagues. The full selection, with clubs, is shown below for clarity ahead of the tournament.

Belgium now head toward the 2026 World Cup with a mixture of established stars and less experienced names. The presence of De Bruyne and Lukaku, despite recent injuries, alongside several Premier League players, shapes expectations around how far this Belgium 2026 World Cup squad can progress.