Belgium Names 26-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia named his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 15, announcing the lineup during a lunchtime television bulletin. The selection highlights striker Romelu Lukaku's inclusion despite his limited playing time this season, as the team prepares for Group G matches against Egypt, Iran and New Zealand next month.

Lukaku, who turned 33 on Wednesday, has not started a match for Napoli and appeared only as a substitute in seven games, scoring once against Verona in February. He has spent the past two months in Belgium rehabilitating a hamstring injury and has not played competitively since Belgium's 4-3 home win over Wales in World Cup qualifying last June. With 89 goals in 124 caps, he remains the national team's all-time leading scorer. Garcia opted to include him, betting on his experience for the tournament.

To provide forward depth, Garcia selected 21-year-old Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who committed to Belgium earlier this week after representing the country at youth levels. Born in Brussels to Italian and Spanish parents, Fernandez-Pardo initially switched to Spain in 2024 but did not honor a call-up to their under-20 team. He has impressed this season...