Table of Contents
Romelu Lukaku's efforts to recover from injuries seem to have paid off after the Napoli striker was included in Belgium's World Cup squad Friday.
Lukaku, midfield great Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are set to play their fourth World Cup campaigns.
Lukaku has 124 games for Belgium, de Bruyne 117 and Courtois 107, making them some of the most experienced players on any team at the World Cup. They all trail 37-year-old defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, also heading into a fourth tournament. He has played for Belgium 136 times.
(Photo by Franco Arland – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Lukaku hasn't played for Belgium in almost a year since scoring against Wales in World Cup qualifying in June. Injuries have limited the 33-year-old striker to just five Serie A games for Napoli this season.
He was selected for Belgium's most recent friendlies in March and April but withdrew from the squad over more fitness concerns.
Courtois' last game for the national team was in October and he was left out of Belgium's most recent squad over injury issues, but he's been a key player for Real Madrid this season. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku bring Premier League experience up front.
Coach Rudi Garcia hasn't selected 17-year-old midfielder Nathan de Cat, who would have been one of the youngest players at the World Cup. De Cat made his Belgium debut in a 5-2 win over the United States in March. Forward Lois Openda also misses out after spending much of the last few months on the Juventus bench.
Belgium starts its World Cup campaign in Group G against Egypt on June 15 before facing Iran six days later and New Zealand on June 27. Belgium placed third at the 2018 World Cup but is looking to improve on a group-stage exit in 2022.
BELGIUM 2026 WORLD CUP ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders.
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cupyer, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate.
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel.
Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard.
Reported by the Associated Press.
share
recommended
The 26: Projecting the USA's World Cup Roster And Starters For Opening Match
2026 FIFA World Cup: What To Know, USA's Schedule, How To Watch All 48 Teams
6 First-Time World Cup Players Poised To Break Out In 2026
Top 100 Players In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked
‘Kylian Mbappe Out’: Petition Reaches Almost 70 Million Signatures Amid Real Madrid Crisis
2026 World Cup Odds: France, Mbappé Emerging as Sportsbook’s Biggest Nightmare
Neymar Included In Brazil's Preliminary 2026 World Cup Roster
5 Key World Cup Storylines To Watch: New Faces, Big Stars And USA's Outlook
2026 World Cup Power Rankings: Every Team Ranked From 48 to 1
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3 
Get more from the FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic 
FIFA Men's World Cup 
Belgium 
Romelu Lukaku 
Serie A
NEXT STORY
5 Heavyweights Who Can Actually Win The 2026 World Cup
recommended
The 26: Projecting the USA's World Cup Roster And Starters For Opening Match
2026 FIFA World Cup: What To Know, USA's Schedule, How To Watch All 48 Teams
6 First-Time World Cup Players Poised To Break Out In 2026
Top 100 Players In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked
‘Kylian Mbappe Out’: Petition Reaches Almost 70 Million Signatures Amid Real Madrid Crisis
2026 World Cup Odds: France, Mbappé Emerging as Sportsbook’s Biggest Nightmare
Neymar Included In Brazil's Preliminary 2026 World Cup Roster
5 Key World Cup Storylines To Watch: New Faces, Big Stars And USA's Outlook
2026 World Cup Power Rankings: Every Team Ranked From 48 to 1
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3Original Article
