Belgium's 2026 World Cup squad signals generational shift

The old guard still matters

Belgium’s modern peak was built around names such as Courtois, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Lukaku.

• That side reached number one in the rankings.
• It held that status from 2018 to 2022.
• It never converted that standing into a major title.

That history matters because it frames this squad properly. Belgium are no longer arriving as the side with the deepest aura or the broadest wave of elite talent. They are arriving with proven internationals still capable of deciding matches, but with fewer guarantees around them.

The transition is already visible

The clearest sign of change is not who is missing. It is who now has to carry more of the load.

• Jeremy Doku is no longer just an exciting option.
• Leandro Trossard feels closer to a leadership role in attack.
• Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans and Zeno Debast represent the spine of the next phase.

In goal, Courtois appears set to remain first choice, even with Senne Lammens reportedly pushing after an impressive season and Mike Penders also included. Across defence and midfield, names such as Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper, Nicolas Raskin, Hans Vanaken and Axel Witsel give Garcia a blend of continuity and refresh.

Lukaku and De Bruyne remain the reference points

For all the talk of renewal, Belgium still need their veterans. Lukaku is set for his seventh major international tournament, while De Bruyne remains the player most likely to set the rhythm in big moments. If Belgium are to make this squad more than a bridge to the future, those two will have to give the new era its edge.

The World Cup begins on 11 June, and Belgium’s biggest storyline is already set: can the last great figures of one era push the first serious wave of the next one into contention?