Belgium – World Cup Profile: Fusing Golden Experience with Rising Talent | OneFootball

How far can Rudi Garcia take Belgium? Our World Cup profile looks at the Red Devils’ tactics, key players, and the bridge between old and new talent.

How They Qualified

Rudi Garcia’s side went through qualifying undefeated to top Group J in their UEFA section, though the journey was not totally serene. The Belgians were held to unexpected draws by Kazakhstan and North Macedonia, ultimately finishing just two points ahead of second-place Wales.

The campaign highlighted clear contrasts within the squad. The attack remains the main strength, with exciting talents Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere combining with veterans like Kevin De Bruyne to help rack up 29 goals in just eight games. The defense, however, remains a work in progress. “That is why I will always choose four defenders and not five,” Garcia told The Guardian, emphasizing his preference for a traditional back line.

Key Players

Belgium’s much-vaunted “Golden Generation” may be fading into memory, but Rudi Garcia will still rely on the rements to provide the core of his team at World Cup 2026.

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, now 34, remains one of the premier goalkeepers in the world. His presence keeps Manchester United’s Premier League Signing of the Season, Senne Lammens, firmly on the bench.

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne (34) remains the creative heart of the team. Despite a public clash of styles with manager Antonio Conte at Napoli, the highly decorated playmaker remains the key man for his country.

Up front, Romelu Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 90 goals, but he has spent the last two months recovering from a hamstring injury. Though the 33-year-old was included in the squad despite being deemed “out of shape,” he has already shown flashes of his old self in warm-up matches, scoring against Croatia and providing an assist against Tunisia.

Breakout Potential

While 24-year-old Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku is already a household name, let’s instead look to 25-year-old Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere.

A product of the Club Brugge academy, De Ketelaere won three consecutive Belgian Pro League titles before moving to Italy. He is now primed to make his mark on the world stage, especially if Lukaku’s fitness wavers. The 6’3″ attacker is a versatile weapon who can lead the line, play as a second striker, or operate in a deeper midfield role. His qualifying stats were impressive, netting two goals and three assists in four appearances.

World Cup History

Belgium holds the record for the most World Cup appearances without winning the tournament. The Red Devils participated in the very first edition in 1930, and 2026 will mark their 15th appearance at the Finals.

Their historical peak came at Russia 2018, where they reached the semi-finals and won the third-place play-off to secure the nation’s best-ever finish (surpassing their fourth-place finish at Mexico 1986). While legendary midfielder Enzo Scifo holds the record for most World Cup matches for Belgium (17), veteran keeper Courtois (15) is on track to break that record this summer.

Coach Profile: Rudi Garcia

Unproven on the international stage and coming off a short-lived tenure at Napoli, Frenchman Rudi Garcia seemed an unlikely choice to succeed Domenico Tedesco in January 2025 – yet he successfully steered Belgium to the World Cup.

Described as “old school” in some quarters, Belgium football expert Ludo Vandewalle says the 62-year-old shuns the data-driven approach favored by the new wave of managers, and his methods seem to be resonating with the Red Devils.

Garcia first came to prominence in 2010-11 when he guided Lille to a historic domestic double, but his career since has often been a case of “close but no cigar.”

He reached cup finals with Marseille and Lyon but failed to lift the trophies. At Roma, he broke the club’s points record only to finish as Serie A runners-up in back-to-back seasons. His main challenge with Belgium remains integrating rising stars with the remnants of the Golden Generation – a puzzle that remains largely unresolved heading into the tournament.

Fun Facts

Fan Culture

Belgium is a country divided by distinct language communities: Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and a small German-speaking community in the east. Consequently, the national anthem is often sung in a trio of languages before matches.

This diversity can make it difficult to coordinate chants in the stands, leading fans to resort to English for their small repertoire of songs.

However, that doesn’t mean the supporters aren’t united; like fans the world over, they share a love for pre-match beers and the tradition of ‘fan walks’, where supporters march together toward the stadium.

Group stage fixtures

June 15Belgium vs. Egypt – Seattle, 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

June 21Belgium vs. Iran – Los Angeles, 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

June 26Belgium vs. New Zealand – Vancouver, 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT