Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, including striker Romelu Lukaku—the nation's all-time top scorer—despite the forward's injury-plagued campaign.
Lukaku, who turned 33 on Wednesday, has not started a single match for Napoli this season. He has made only seven substitute appearances, scoring once in a win at Verona in February. Since then, the striker has spent two months in Belgium recovering from a hamstring injury.
Nevertheless, as Belgium's record scorer with 89 goals in 124 caps, Garcia is betting on his fitness, viewing Lukaku as a strategic asset for the tournament next month. In the group stage, Belgium are in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.
According to sources, Lukaku's last international appearance came in June last year, a 4-3 World Cup qualifying win over Wales.
As cover, Garcia has called up young striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who committed his international future to Belgium earlier this week. The 21-year-old, born in Brussels to Italian and Spanish parents, played for Belgium's youth teams before choosing Spain in 2024, but later turned down a call-up to their under-20 side. He has enjoyed a strong season at Lille and was selected over Lois Openda, who has not been a regular starter at Juventus.
Sporting defender Zeno Debast is also included despite suffering an injury in training and reports suggesting he may not recover in time. Debast has been a key figure under Garcia.
The timely return of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) is a bright spot, though speculation that the coach would select four goalkeepers did not materialize. This will be the fourth consecutive World Cup for Courtois, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Axel Witsel.
Belgium squad for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders.
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate.
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel.
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard.
