For more than a decade, Belgium have carried the label of soccer’s great nearly men. A so called golden generation of world class talent promised a major trophy and never quite delivered, peaking with a memorable run to third place in 2018 before fading in Qatar. Now, at their fourth successive World Cup, the Red Devils arrive in North America for what feels like the final chapter of that remarkable era.
- World Cup appearances: 15, with a best finish of third place in 2018
The journey to the finals was smooth. Belgium topped their UEFA qualifying group without losing a game, sealing their place with a 7-0 demolition of Liechtenstein. That unbeaten campaign masked deeper questions about an aging core, but it also showed that the talent in this squad still runs deep enough to brush aside lesser opponents with ease.
- Qualifying: topped UEFA Group J unbeaten
The contrast with their recent past adds intrigue. After the high of finishing third in Russia, Belgium crashed out at the group stage in 2022, a deflating end that prompted soul searching about where the team goes next. This tournament is the answer, and it may be the last time the familiar names take the field together at a World Cup.
The Rudi Garcia project
The man tasked with reviving the Red Devils is Rudi Garcia. The experienced French coach took charge in January 2025, his first job in international management after a long club career that included a celebrated Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double with Lille in 2011, plus spells at Roma, Marseille, Lyon, and Napoli. He knows how to handle a dressing room full of big names, exactly the skill this group demands.
Garcia favors a 4-2-3-1 that aims to get the best out of his creative players while shielding a defense that is no longer as quick as it once was. His challenge is delicate. He must respect the legacy of his veterans while integrating fresh legs, and his squad selection reflected that balancing act between loyalty and renewal.
De Bruyne and the last great names
At the heart of it all is Kevin De Bruyne. One of the finest midfielders of his generation, the playmaker arrives at what is almost certainly his last World Cup, still capable of unlocking any defense with a single pass. After leaving the Premier League for Napoli, he remains the creative engine of the Belgian side, the man everything is built around.
Behind him stands Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper widely regarded as one of the best in the world, whose brilliance can keep Belgium in any match. The captain’s armband belongs to Youri Tielemans, fresh off lifting the Europa League with Aston Villa, and a steady presence in midfield alongside the powerful Amadou Onana. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard adds cutting edge in the final third after a fine season for the Gunners.
Then there is the great gamble. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s all time leading scorer, was included despite a season wrecked by injury that limited him to barely an hour of competitive soccer. Garcia is betting that the experience and presence of his target man will matter more than match sharpness when the pressure rises.
- Romelu Lukaku for Belgium: 89 international goals, the most in the country’s history
Group G and the road through the group stage
If the squad raises questions, the draw offers real encouragement. Belgium landed in Group G alongside Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, a disciplined Iran side, and New Zealand, in what is widely seen as one of the most favorable groups in the entire tournament. Egypt represent the toughest test on paper, while the closing fixture against New Zealand looks like the clearest route to finishing top.
The group takes Belgium on a tour of the western side of the tournament, with games in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.
- Belgium vs Egypt: Monday, June 15, 3 p.m. ET, Lumen Field, Seattle
- Belgium vs Iran: Sunday, June 21, 3 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- New Zealand vs Belgium: Friday, June 26, 11 p.m. ET, BC Place, Vancouver
With 32 of the 48 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, progress should be comfortable for a side of Belgium’s pedigree. The bigger prize is winning the group, which could open up a kinder path through the early knockout matches and give the veterans the deep run they crave.
The objective is to finally deliver
For most teams, reaching the latter stages would be a fine summer. For this Belgium side, the calculation is different. Time is running out on a generation that has won admirers without winning silverware, and there is a quiet determination to leave the international stage with something more than memories of what might have been.
Realistically, a return to the latter stages is the target, with the quarterfinals a reasonable benchmark and anything beyond that a triumph against the odds. Much will depend on the fitness of Lukaku, the form of De Bruyne, and whether Garcia can find the right blend of experience and energy.
This is a team chasing redemption as much as results. The names are familiar, the talent is undeniable, and the hunger to end the golden generation on a high is unmistakable. Belgium may no longer be the favorites they once were, but few sides arrive with this much quality and this much to prove. For the Red Devils, North America represents one last chance to write the ending their golden era always deserved.