Rudi Garcia announces squad for World Cup qualifiers

Rudi Garcia has announced a list of 26 called-up players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers that the Belgian national team will face.

New Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has named Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Sevilla striker Dodi Lukebakio on Tuesday as the Red Devils begin their road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with matches against North Macedonia and Wales.

Belgium’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who is nearing the end of a glittering decade at Manchester City, are also on a list in which the only newcomer is defender Diego Moreira, who has played for Portugal’s youth teams and whose change of nationality in sporting terms was confirmed by FIFA on Tuesday morning.

With five-team qualifying groups, Belgium were rested for the first matchday. Their opponents on 6th June (away to Northern Macedonia) and 9th June (home to Wales) lead Group J with four points after winning their opening games against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan and then drawing with each other.

Belgium full squad list

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/SPA), Senne Lammens (Antwerp/BEL), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig/GER)

Defenders: Zeno Debast (Sporting/POR), Maxim De Cuyper (Bruges/BEL), Koni De Winter (Genoa/ITA), Wout Faes (Leicester/ENG), Brandon Mechele (Bruges/BEL), Thomas Meunier (Lille/FRA), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg/FRA), Arthur Theate (Frankfurt/GER)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/ENG), Jorthy Mokio (Ajax/NED), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa/ENG), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers/SCO), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa/ENG), Hans Vanaken (Brugge)

Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta/ITA), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City/ENG), Malick Fofana (Lyon/FRA), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli/ITA), Dodi Lukébakio (Sevilla/SPA), Loïs Openda (RB Leipzig/GER), Alexis Saelemaekers (AS Roma/ITA), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal/ENG).