The bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was the peak of the "Belgian Red Devils." Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku — the "Golden Generation" propelled Belgium to the top of the FIFA World Rankings. Yet just four years later in Qatar, Belgium failed to even escape the group stage. Eden Hazard retired. Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany, and Jan Vertonghen faded away. The Golden Generation had crumbled. In 2026, the last four holdovers of that generation — Kevin De Bruyne (34), Thibaut Courtois (34), Romelu Lukaku (33), and Axel Witsel (37) — are almost certainly playing in their final World Cup.

While Belgium is no longer as formidable as they once were, their path to the 2026 World Cup was smooth. In European qualifying Group J, Belgium was drawn with Wales, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. They finished top of the group with a record of 8 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses, securing qualification with matches to spare.

French coach Rudi Garcia took charge of the Belgian national team in January 2025. Garcia has previously managed Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, and Napoli. On paper, Belgium's squad remains strong.

In goal, Courtois is Belgium's most reliable asset. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has missed some matches this season due to a muscle injury, but he remains among the world's elite.

In attack, 33-year-old Lukaku has scored 89 goals for his country — the nation's all-time leading scorer. However, he has spent much of this season sidelined by injury, and it remains unclear what level he will be able to reach at the World Cup.

Twenty-four-year-old Jérémy Doku has emerged as the team's attacking centerpiece. This season, he has made 50 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists.

The biggest concern is Kevin De Bruyne. The former midfield maestro has moved from Manchester City to Napoli. This season in Serie A, he has recorded just 5 goals and 0 assists — a far cry from the player who once delivered devastating through balls with regularity. This represents a significant vulnerability for the team.

At the 2026 World Cup, Belgium has been drawn into Group G. On paper, Belgium enjoys a "top-heavy" advantage in the group. None of their three opponents — Egypt, Iran, or New Zealand — are traditional European or South American powerhouses. Topping Group G and advancing to the Round of 32 is the bare minimum expectation for Belgium. The Round of 16 opponent should be relatively favorable. The true test will begin in the Round of 16. But no matter how far they go, this will almost certainly be the last time De Bruyne, Courtois, and Lukaku lace up together on the World Cup stage.