Red Devils Hold Players-Only Meeting Without Coach Garcia at World Cup

Belgium’s national football team, the Red Devils, organized a players-only meeting between their group stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a gathering that excluded head coach Rudi Garcia and his staff but reportedly had the coach’s full approval. The meeting, involving all 26 squad members, addressed the team’s sluggish start to the tournament and preceded a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand that secured first place in Group G.

Context: A Rocky Start in Group G

Belgium entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament’s established powers, but their campaign began with two disappointing draws: a 1-1 result against Egypt on June 17 followed by a 0-0 stalemate with Iran on June 21. The performances drew mounting criticism from Belgian media, with analysts questioning Rudi Garcia’s tactical decisions and his reliance on the aging “Golden Generation” core of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois.

According to La Libre Belgique, the situation created a sense of urgency within the squad, prompting the players to take matters into their own hands.

The Meeting: Players Take Initiative

Between the Iran draw and the must-win clash against New Zealand, all 26 Red Devils gathered for a meeting without any members of the technical staff. While the exact content of the discussions remains private, RTL Info reported that “words were exchanged, without apparent tension, but with a demand: to show on the field that Belgium is a united team.”

Crucially, Garcia was informed of the meeting beforehand, gave his consent, and actively encouraged the initiative. This was not the first time the squad had gathered without their coach — smaller meetings involving the so-called “Council of Sages” (Courtois, De Bruyne, Tielemans, Lukaku, and Meunier) had already taken place before the first two group matches, also with Garcia’s approval.

A New Ritual Emerges

Following the full-squad meeting, the team adopted a new pre-match ritual: all 26 players — starters and substitutes alike — now gather in a circle on the pitch before matches to talk and motivate each other, without any staff involvement. Garcia reportedly decided to keep his coaching team outside this player-led initiative.

The impact was immediate. On June 26 at BC Place in Vancouver, Belgium delivered a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand, with Leandro Trossard emerging as the standout performer. The result secured first place in Group G and set up a Round of 32 clash against Senegal on July 1 in Seattle.

Tensions Beneath the Surface

Despite the emphatic victory, reports from La Libre Belgique described a “strange atmosphere” in the aftermath of the New Zealand match. Journalists Yves Taildeman and Christophe Franken, special envoys to Vancouver, noted that the mood shifted noticeably once players returned to the locker room after their lap of honor.

Garcia himself appeared tense during his post-match press conference. Rather than celebrating the victory, he used the opportunity to defend his veteran players against critics who had labeled them “has-beens.” “I’ll tell you right away, I really didn’t appreciate that the veterans were treated as has-beens,” Garcia said, according to La Libre Belgique.

Analysis: A Delicate Balance

The players-only meeting represents a significant moment of player empowerment within the Belgian camp. While Garcia’s approval suggests the coach is willing to delegate and empower his squad, the fact that players felt the need to meet without staff indicates communication gaps may exist beneath the surface.

French-language Belgian media have largely framed the meeting as a mature, positive intervention by the players, with Garcia’s consent portrayed as good management. Dutch-language media have been more critical, questioning whether the episode reveals deeper dysfunction within the team.

What’s Next

The true test of whether the players-only meeting was a turning point will come on July 1, when Belgium faces Senegal in Seattle. A deep tournament run could see this moment remembered as a catalyst; an early exit would likely intensify scrutiny on Garcia’s leadership and the team’s underlying dynamics.

For now, the Red Devils have shown they are willing to take collective ownership of their performance — a quality that may prove essential as they navigate the knockout stages of a World Cup where the margin between success and failure is razor-thin.