Red Devils Announce World Cup 2026 Squad: Fernandez-Pardo In, De Cat and Godts Out
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has named his 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with LOSC Lille forward Matías Fernández-Pardo as the headline inclusion and several high-profile players left at home. The Red Devils will compete in Group G against Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, opening their campaign on 15 June against Egypt in Seattle.
The Squad
Garcia, who took over the national team following Domenico Tedesco’s departure, unveiled a selection that balances experience with youth. The squad features captain Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), all-time top scorer Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), and veteran midfielder Axel Witsel (Girona), alongside promising talents such as goalkeeper Mike Penders (RC Strasbourg) and defender Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge).
According to Sporza/VRT NWS, the full squad includes three goalkeepers — Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), and Penders — nine defenders, six midfielders, and eight forwards.
Fernandez-Pardo: The Surprise Inclusion
The most notable newcomer is 21-year-old Matías Fernández-Pardo, who previously represented Spain at youth level but has now committed to Belgium. Garcia confirmed that FIFA had cleared the switch.
“I couldn’t select him before,” Garcia said during his press conference. “We explained our project to him. As a striker, he has also performed. He plays regularly, and that’s important. He scores and is ready to play.”
Fernández-Pardo’s rise has been rapid. The former AA Gent youth product, who moved to Lille, has been described as a versatile forward capable of playing across the front line.
Notable Absentees
The squad announcement brought disappointment for several players who had been part of the preliminary selection. Midfielder Nathan De Cat (Anderlecht), who enjoyed a breakthrough season, was left out, as was Ajax winger Mika Godts despite impressive statistics.
Garcia explained the decision on Godts, as reported by HLN: “His statistics are strong, but on the left flank we already have the two best Belgians from the Premier League with Doku and Trossard. Doku is the X-factor of Manchester City, Trossard plays the Champions League final.”
Loïs Openda (Juventus) and goalkeeper Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) were also omitted. Garcia described them as “the two heartbreak cases of this list,” adding: “It’s tough to call them up and then not take them. But that’s part of my role. Choosing is also losing.”
Roméo Lavia (Chelsea) and Malick Fofana, who underwent ankle surgery, were also absent.
Lukaku Fitness Concerns
Belgium’s all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku has been included despite a difficult season with limited minutes at Napoli. Garcia acknowledged the striker faces a race to be fully fit for the tournament.
“He is healed, but has a fitness deficit,” Garcia said. “The challenge is to get him fit again. I am not sure if he will be 100% by the start of the World Cup.”
However, the coach was emphatic about Lukaku’s importance: “Without Lukaku we can’t do it. What role he will have, we don’t know yet. He is already training to recover as best as possible.”
Debast Selected Despite Injury
Defender Zeno Debast (Sporting CP) was included despite a thigh injury, with Garcia banking on the expanded tournament format — which adds a round of 32 — to give him time to recover.
“We know he’s injured, but also that this is a different World Cup,” Garcia explained. “If you get out of the group, you play a round of 32. So there’s an extra match and that counts. His type of injury we have to monitor week by week.”
The squad can still be modified up to one day before Belgium’s opening match on 15 June.
World Cup Ambitions
Belgium, ranked 9th in the FIFA World Rankings, endured a group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — a low point for the Golden Generation. Garcia struck a realistic tone about the team’s prospects.
“Ambitions are limitless. Everyone dreams of going all the way. That is also our ambition,” he said. “Our goal is different, we shouldn’t lie about that. At the previous World Cup, Belgium went out in the group stage. So now we want to win our group and then we’ll see. There are strong teams, and we are an outsider.”
What’s Next
Belgium will play two warm-up matches against Croatia and Tunisia before the tournament begins. The Red Devils open their World Cup campaign against Egypt on 15 June at Lumen Field in Seattle, followed by matches against Iran in Los Angeles and New Zealand in Vancouver.
With a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talent, Garcia’s squad reflects a team in transition — one that hopes to restore Belgian pride on the global stage while managing the expectations of a nation accustomed to the heights of 2018, when the Red Devils finished third.