Belgium Includes Injury-Plagued Lukaku in 2026 World Cup Squad
Belgium has officially announced its 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, featuring striker Romelu Lukaku despite his severe lack of match fitness. The 33-year-old Napoli forward has played only one hour of competitive football this season due to a hamstring injury but remains the country's all-time leading scorer with 89 goals. Head coach Rudi Garcia decided to take a risk on Lukaku's experience rather than excluding him entirely. To mitigate this risk, Garcia included 21-year-old attacker Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who recently switched his international allegiance from Spain to Belgium after a strong season at Lille. Fernandez-Pardo was selected over Juventus striker Lois Openda. The squad also features the welcome return of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from injury, while defender Zeno Debast was included despite recent training setbacks. Key veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel will attend their fourth consecutive World Cup. Belgium is drawn in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand for the tournament starting next month.
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