Belgium calls up 26 players for the 2026 World Cup with Courtois, De Bruyne and Doku
Rudi Garcia announced this Friday (15) the 26 players called up from Bélgica to Copa from Mundo in 2026. The Belgian team has experienced players such as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) and striker Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) for his fourth consecutive participation in Mundiais. The list was released with a focus on high-level players who play in high-performance competitions at Europa.
Bélgica arrives as the top seed of Grupo G and will face Egito, Irã and Nova Zelândia. The first engagement takes place on June 15 against the Iranians, in Seattle. The goal is to surpass the performance of 2018, when the team won third place after losing to França in the semifinals.
Goleiros and defenders complete the squad
The coach kept three goalkeepers in the squad. Thibaut Courtois remains the undisputed holder. Senne Lammens, from Manchester United, and Mike Penders, from Strasbourg, complete the position. The defense gains reinforcements with Axel Witsel (Girona), a veteran who knows international competitions well, and Thomas Meunier (Lille), a full-back with accumulated experience.
The defense has depth. Zeno Debast (Sporting), Koni De Winter (Milan) and Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion) offer alternatives to Garcia. Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge) and Nathan Ngoy (Lille) expand the options. Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge) and Timothy Castagne (Fulham) close the sector. Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan) appears as a versatile defender.
Meio-field with six game creators
The core of the Belgian team features players with constant creation. Kevin De Bruyne emerges as the central piece of the offensive system. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) and Amadou Onana (Aston Villa) add versatility and physical strength. Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) maintains Belgian football tradition. Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) and Diego Moreira (Strasbourg) complete the options for Garcia to manipulate during the competition.
Ataque with Lukaku and Doku highlighted
The offensive sector brings together five attackers and creators. Romelu Lukaku (Napoli) returns as a reference center forward, reinforcing his campaign at Itália. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) appears as a fast winger who is skilled at dribbling. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) offers tactical versatility. Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) appears as a creative alternative. Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica) and Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille) complete the options for the attack.
Convocação complete for Copa 2026
The final relationship for the 2026 Mundial follows a balanced distribution:
- Goleiros: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammels (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Strasbourg)
- Defensores: Axel Witsel (Girona), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Koni De Winter (Milan), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Timothy Castagne (Fulham)
- Meias: Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli)
- Atacantes: Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Calendário and Mundial groups
The Bélgica integrates the Grupo G accompanied by Egito, Irã and Nova Zelândia. The schedule starts on June 15th with the match against Irã at Seattle. Garcia has less than five months to prepare its players and adjust its strategy depending on performance in preparatory friendlies. The Belgian team seeks to advance from the group stage and compete for impressive results until the decisive stages.
