Belgium have named their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and the most striking thing about the list is not who is in it, but what it represents. The golden generation is almost entirely gone. Eden Hazard retired in 2023. Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have followed. What remains is Kevin De Bruyne, 33, playing the best football of his post-City career at Napoli; Romelu Lukaku alongside him at the same club; and a new wave of attackers young enough to carry Belgium long after this tournament.
Belgium's Squad — Where They Stand
This is a Belgium squad in transition — but it is a better transition than most expected. The worry after Euro 2024, where Belgium were eliminated in the Round of 16 by France, was that the drop-off from the golden generation would be steep. The squad named for 2026 suggests it has been managed.
De Bruyne's move to Napoli was the decisive factor. At Manchester City his final seasons were interrupted by injury and complicated by a changing system. At Napoli he is the focal point of everything — and it shows. He arrives at this World Cup in the form of his career's second act.
Axel Witsel's inclusion at 36 is the selection that divides opinion most. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder is now at Girona, where his reading of the game compensates for reduced mobility. Domestically his performances have warranted selection. In a knockout tournament against elite opposition, the question is whether his legs hold.
The younger generation brings genuine excitement. Mathis Fernandez Pardo, 21, has been one of Ligue 1's most effective wide attackers at Lille. Diego Moreira, the Belgian-Portuguese winger, provides width from Strasbourg. Koni De Winter has established himself at AC Milan's defence alongside Zeno Debast and Arthur Theate.
Key Players to Watch
The De Bruyne–Lukaku Napoli Connection
For the first time in their international careers, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku spent a full season at the same club before a major tournament. Their chemistry for Belgium has always been natural — now it has been reinforced by 30+ Napoli appearances together. If Belgium are going to cause an upset, the partnership between these two is the most likely mechanism.
The attacking depth beyond the established names is the story of this squad. Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) and Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica) give Belgium four different attacking profiles. Doku for pace and direct running; De Ketelaere for combination play; Trossard for versatility and pressing; Lukebakio for explosive one-on-one situations.
Group G — Belgium's Path Out
Belgium are drawn in Group G alongside Iran, Saudi Arabia and Senegal. It is a group Belgium are expected to top, but not without pressure. Senegal are a legitimate knockout-stage threat — their squad combines athleticism with quality in wide areas, and they have tournament experience from 2022.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are unlikely to challenge for top spot, but either could cause problems on a bad day. Belgium's priority is to win the group and set up a more favourable Round of 32 draw — finishing second puts them into a path that likely includes a heavier hitter earlier.
World Cup History
One to Watch — Kevin De Bruyne
Prediction
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