Belgium vs North Macedonia – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·10 October 2025

Belgium vs North Macedonia – Match preview and team news

Belgium and North Macedonia go head-to-head in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.

Both sides will be searching for victory in what promises to be a pivotal encounter in Group J, with automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico at stake.

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Belgium vs North Macedonia – Match Preview and Team News

Date: 10th October, Friday.
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
Venue: Planet Group Arena, Gent.

Belgium Team News

Belgium will be without their captain, Youri Tielemans, who remains sidelined with a calf injury that has kept him out of Aston Villa’s last five fixtures. The absence of the 28-year-old midfielder is a significant blow to Rudi Garcia’s side. Tielemans was excellent during the September international break when Belgium recorded 6-0 victories over both Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan.

Romelu Lukaku is also unavailable due to injury, leaving Garcia without his star striker. However, the coach has made a surprise recall for veteran midfielder Axel Witsel, who returns to the squad after missing the Euro 2024 tournament. The 36-year-old Girona player brings vast experience with over 130 international caps and is expected to provide leadership alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois.

Charles De Ketelaere remains a doubt after missing Atalanta’s Champions League fixture against Club Brugge on Tuesday due to injury. Garcia will assess his fitness before the match. Amadou Onana returns to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last month.

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku retains his place in the squad following his impressive form. Michy Batshuayi and Leandro Trossard are also included despite limited club playing time.

North Macedonia Team News

North Macedonia manager Blagoja Milevski has named a strong squad for their crucial October fixtures, with no major surprises in his selection. The team will be missing Lirim Qamili due to injury, while David Babunski and Stefan Ashkovski return to the squad.

Captain Enis Bardhi (Konyaspor) will lead the side, while formed Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski offers vast international experience. Forward Bojan Miovski remains the team’s key attacking threat.

Stole Dimitrievski is reported as injured and may miss the encounter, which could provide opportunities for other goalkeepers in the squad.

Form

Belgium

Rudi Garcia’s side has shown remarkable attacking prowess in recent World Cup qualifiers, scoring 16 goals in their last three matches. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against North Macedonia in Skopje in June, Belgium have bounced back with consecutive 6-0 victories over Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan in September.

The Red Devils demonstrated their resilience with a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Wales in June, with Kevin De Bruyne’s last-minute strike salvaging the points after Belgium had squandered a three-goal lead. Their campaign has been characterised by dominant performances against weaker opposition, though they’ve shown vulnerability against stronger teams.

North Macedonia

The Red Lynxes currently sit atop Group J with 11 points from five matches, maintaining an impressive 11-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures. Milevski’s team have been resolute in qualifying, securing victories over Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein (twice), while drawing with both Wales and Belgium.

Their most recent qualifier was a commanding 5-0 home victory over Liechtenstein in September, demonstrating their ability to capitalise on opportunities against lesser opposition. The team has shown remarkable defensive solidity away from home, not conceding a single goal in their away qualifying matches this campaign.