Belgium at the FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA ranking: 9
Group: G
Confederation: UEFA
Coach: Rudi Garcia
World Cup titles: 0
Best result: Third place (2018)

History

Belgium have appeared in the FIFA World Cup 15 times, with their first participation at the inaugural 1930 tournament. Their golden generation peaked at the 2018 edition in Russia, where they finished third, defeating England 2-0 in the third-place playoff through goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard. Prior to that, their best result was fourth place at Mexico 1986. Belgium missed out on the 1982, 2006, and 2010 tournaments but were a consistent presence between 2014 and 2022, reaching the quarter-finals in each of 2014 and 2022. They have never won the World Cup, though they claimed an Olympic gold medal in football at the 1920 Summer Olympics on home soil.

Qualification

Belgium qualified for the 2026 World Cup as winners of UEFA Group J, which also included Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. Under coach Rudi Garcia, appointed in January 2025, the Red Devils went unbeaten across all 8 group matches, accumulating 18 points and scoring 29 goals while conceding 7. The campaign was sealed with a 7-0 demolition of Liechtenstein on the final matchday, finishing five points clear of runners-up Wales, who advanced to the play-off round. Belgium's dominant form continued into the March 2026 international window with a 5-2 friendly victory over the United States in Atlanta.

Preparation

After a pre-camp at Tubeke, Belgium play two warm-up friendlies: away to Croatia in Rijeka on 2 June 2026, then a home send-off against Tunisia at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 6 June 2026, billed as the Red Devils' final game before heading to North America. On 1 June, before departure, Zeno Debast (still rehabbing a thigh injury) did not travel to Croatia and Leandro Trossard was rested after the 30 May Champions League final; Romelu Lukaku trained close to normally and Garcia called him 'better than I expected', though he is not yet fit to start and his availability for the opener is uncertain. The team is based in Seattle at the Providence Swedish Performance Center, the Seattle Sounders' training site, for the tournament. Garcia's side entered preparation on a long unbeaten run. Belgium open their Group G campaign against Egypt on 15 June in Seattle.

Latest news

Garcia: Lukaku 'better than expected' but not yet fit to start

Mon 1 Jun · injuries

Before the Croatia friendly, coach Rudi Garcia gave a positive update on Romelu Lukaku, calling him 'better than I expected' and 'the most motivated player I've ever seen' and saying he scores often in training. Lukaku cannot yet start, so he will not start against Croatia and may only feature off the bench; his availability for the 15 June Egypt opener is uncertain. Garcia also sees 'serenity'.

sporza.be · 2026-06-02

Debast stays behind to rehab thigh injury, ruled out of Egypt opener

Mon 1 Jun · injuries

Defender Zeno Debast did not travel with the squad to the Croatia friendly, remaining at Tubeke to continue rehabilitating the thigh injury he sustained late in the Portuguese season. Garcia confirmed on 1 June that Debast will not be ready for the 15 June opener against Egypt, though his recovery is progressing; reports suggest he is unlikely to be available before a possible round-of-16.

voetbalkrant.com · 2026-06-02
sporza.be · 2026-06-02

Trossard rested after Champions League final, set to miss Croatia friendly

Mon 1 Jun · matches

Leandro Trossard, who played Arsenal's 30 May Champions League final, was given several rest days and was absent from the last training before the squad flew to Croatia. He was expected to skip the Croatia warm-up and return later in the camp.

voetbalkrant.com · 2026-06-02

Belgium set two World Cup warm-ups: Croatia (2 June) and Tunisia (6 June)