Belgium All-Time World Cup XI + 5 Players to Watch in 2026
Jean-Marie Pfaff (Jon marie faf)
Exceptional Goalkeeper Known for Leadership During Belgium’s 1986 Heroics
Georges Grün (Groon)
Versatile Defender and Lynchpin of Belgium’s 1980s and 1990s Teams
Thomas Vermaelen (Ver-mah-len)
Twenty-First Century Great Who Represented Arsenal and Barcelona
Wilfried Van Moer (Van moo-er)
Key Member of the 1970 and 1982 World Cup Squads
Enzo Scifo (She-foh)
Creative Playmaker Famous for Technical Skill and World Cup Performances
Bernard Voorhoof (voor-hoof, as written)
Prolific Forward Holding Belgium’s Top Scoring Record For 34 Years
Jef Mermans
Helped Establish Anderlecht as a Dominant Force in Belgian Football
Dries Mertens (dreez mehr-tens)
Stylish Attacker and Napoli’s All-Time Highest Goalscorer
Raymond Braine
Arguably Belgium’s Best Player During the Early Twentieth Century
So, those are the greatest of all time, but how about right now? Who are the players you need to know before World Cup 2026 kicks off in America, Mexico and Canada?
Jérémy Doku (Dock-oo)
If there’s one player who truly represents the breakthrough of the next Belgian generation, it’s Jerémy Doku. Though at 23, he still has all the time in the world to sharpen his tools, he will come into this tournament not as a prospect, but as a key player. Someone is going to push ahead of all others and establish themselves as the face of Belgian football for the next decade. With the right performances here, Doku could be in a prime position to be that player.
Thibaut Courtois
As the most experienced and decorated player in the Belgium squad, Thibaut Courtois is a guy who has seen and done it all at club level. However, despite being a core member of that golden generation of Belgium football, he has not succeeded in capturing the sport’s top prize internationally. Courtois will be a leader in this team, and at 33, he will likely retain all of the attributes and skills that have made him a living legend.
Kevin De Bruyne
Out of the entire Belgian team, there is no player who holds as much influence and acclaim as Kevin De Bruyne. However, at 34, there’s no denying that this will likely be his final World Cup appearance. Although he is already regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, KDB has a chance to elevate his legacy to an entirely different level with a strong showing in this tournament.
Romelu Lukaku
When it comes to Romelu Lukaku, the name of the game is simple. Goals win games and few players in Belgian history score them as freely as he does. If he maintains his fitness, this all-time goalscorer will likely play a key role in the Belgian offense. At 32, he is still showing prime form and whether it’s his last World Cup or not, he has a golden opportunity to truly do something huge for his country’s chances here.
Youri Tielemans (Your-i Teel-eh-mins)
The composure and tactical discipline of Youri Tielemans will likely be a very valuable asset to Belgium in the summer of 2026. In the heart of midfield, he will serve as captain, anchoring all attacks with his superb vision, passing, and tempo control. At 28, he is more than capable of appearing in subsequent World Cups, but this one just so happens to be arriving at what we assume is the peak of his physical prime.
But how do you predict Belgium will do in the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments below.
