UEFA · Group G
Belgium at FIFA World Cup 2026
Belgium qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the first 48-team edition, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Group G opponents
Belgium plays the following three teams in the group stage. Top 2 advance to the Round of 32; the 3rd-placed team can still advance via the best-3rd-placed playoff route (8 of 12 third-placed teams qualify).
Belgium fixtures
Belgium in the tournament
Belgium arrives at the 2026 World Cup ranked #8 in the FIFA World Ranking with a tournament strength rating of 82/100. UEFA (Europe) sends 16 teams to the 2026 expanded tournament, the largest single-confederation allocation.
The 48-team format puts Belgium in Group G with Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. On FIFA ranking alone, the group averages #38, with Belgium the top-ranked side. Top 2 advance automatically; the best 3rd-placed teams (8 of 12) also qualify for the Round of 32.
Belgium squad for World Cup 2026
Announced May 15, 2026 · 26 players · Head coach: Rudi Garcia
Likely the last World Cup for Belgium's "golden generation" core: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Axel Witsel all return. Captain Youri Tielemans takes the armband. Both De Bruyne and Lukaku played limited minutes with Napoli this season but Rudi Garcia trusted their experience.
Goalkeepers3
- Thibaut Courtois(Real Madrid)Fourth World Cup; 107 caps
- Senne Lammens(Manchester United)
- Mike Penders(Strasbourg)
Defenders9
- Timothy Castagne(Fulham)
- Zeno Debast(Sporting CP)
- Maxim De Cuyper(Brighton)
- Koni De Winter(AC Milan)
- Brandon Mechele(Club Brugge)
- Thomas Meunier(Lille)
- Nathan Ngoy(Lille)
- Joaquin Seys(Club Brugge)
- Arthur Theate(Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders6
- Kevin De Bruyne(Napoli)Fourth World Cup; 117 caps
- Amadou Onana(Aston Villa)
- Nicolas Raskin(Rangers)
- Youri TielemansCaptain(Aston Villa)
- Hans Vanaken(Club Brugge)
- Axel Witsel(Girona)Most-capped player in squad (136 caps); fourth World Cup
Forwards8
- Charles De Ketelaere(Atalanta)
- Jeremy Doku(Manchester City)
- Matias Fernandez-Pardo(Lille)21-year-old uncapped before squad announcement
- Romelu Lukaku(Napoli)Belgium's all-time top scorer (89 goals in 124 apps); fourth World Cup
- Dodi Lukebakio(Benfica)
- Diego Moreira(Strasbourg)
- Alexis Saelemaekers(AC Milan)
- Leandro Trossard(Arsenal)
Sources: Sky Sports, FourFourTwo. Squads may change due to injury or disciplinary action before the tournament.
Frequently asked questions about Belgium
When does Belgium play at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Belgium plays 3 scheduled group-stage matches starting June 15, 2026. The opener is against EGY. See the full fixtures list below for every kickoff time and venue.
What group is Belgium in at the World Cup 2026?
Belgium is in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. The top two from each group advance to the Round of 32, plus the 8 best 3rd-placed teams across all 12 groups.
What is Belgium's FIFA ranking?
Belgium entered the FIFA World Cup 2026 ranked #8 in the FIFA World Ranking. This places them in the top 10 globally. Rankings update through the qualification cycle.
Can Belgium win the World Cup 2026?
Belgium's pre-tournament strength rating is 82/100, derived from FIFA ranking, recent form, and squad depth. They are realistic dark horses capable of reaching the latter rounds. Try them in the bracket predictor to test your scenario.