Belgium vs Liechtenstein – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Belgium and Liechtenstein will battle it out in Liège as the hosts look to confirm automatic qualification for 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The Red Devils sit on top of Group J, two points ahead of North Macedonia and Wales. A point would be enough to secure first place given their far superior goal difference.

Belgium vs Liechtenstein – Match preview and team news

Belgium team news

The Red Devils have been plagued by a series of injury concerns ahead of their crucial double-header in November. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been sidelined with a muscle injury to his right leg, as confirmed by his club on Monday, with his recovery timeline to be determined in due course.

This represents another setback for Rudi Garcia’s side, who are already missing key creative force Kevin De Bruyne. The Napoli midfielder suffered a severe high-grade lesion to his right thigh during his club’s victory against Inter Milan in October and faces several months on the sidelines.

Alongside these significant absentees, Romelu Lukaku remains unavailable for selection following his decision to step away from international football participation during the Nations League fixtures in late 2024. The loss of these three elite-level performers represents a considerable weakening of Belgium’s attacking arsenal, though manager Rudi Garcia has expressed optimism about their capacity to remain competitive.

Courtois’s absence opens the door for Matz Sels, who is once again set to deputise between the sticks. Despite the personnel challenges, Belgium’s home record in 2025 remains formidable, with the team remaining unbeaten at the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium across all competitions, recording three victories from four matches.

There is also good news; Thomas Meunier is back from the suspension and is available.

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Liechtenstein team news

Liechtenstein arrives at the venue against a deeply concerning statistical backdrop, having failed to register a single goal throughout their World Cup qualifying campaign thus far. The visitors, captained by Nicolas Hasler, have struggled greatly at the other end of the pitch, conceding 24 goals.

The squad shows notable experience, with goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel leading the visitors as vice-captain. Emanuel Zund is suffering from an injury against that was sustained in the last match vs Wales, also striker Fabio Luque-Notaro; Willy Pizzi is the only like-for-like replacement Liechtenstein have for the latter.

Form

Belgium

Rudi Garcia’s men navigated a crucial two-legged Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Ukraine in early 2025, ultimately securing a 4–3 aggregate success to remain in League A status.

Their World Cup qualification record demonstrates considerable inconsistency, with four victories, three draws, and zero defeats from seven matches, accumulating a total of 15 points. The team currently maintains a goal-scoring average of 2.60 per match, whilst conceding just 1.10 on average.

Liechtenstein

The mountainous principality faces an exceptionally arduous task on foreign soil, carrying an alarming sequence of five consecutive losses across all competitions into this qualifying fixture. Manager Konrad Funfstuck side sit bottom of Group J with zero points from seven matches, conceding 24 goals whilst registering none themselves. Their goal differential of minus-24 represents the worst record in the entire UEFA qualifying phase.

Predicted lineups

Belgium: Sels; Castagne, De Winter, Theate, De Cuyper; Onana, Raskin; Lukebakio, Vanaken, Doku; Openda

Liechtenstein: Buchel; Meier, Malin, Goppel; N. Hasler, Sele, Luchinger, A. Hasler, Hofer; Pizzi, Salanovic

How to watch Belgium vs Liechtenstein?

UK supporters can view the encounter through Prime Video UK.

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