BELGIUM

Belgium is the bronze medalist of the 2018 World Cup — the country's best-ever result. At the 2026 World Cup, Belgium plays in Group G against New Zealand, Egypt, and Iran. Head coach Rudi Garcia, a Frenchman, was appointed on January 24, 2025, after Domenico Tedesco's dismissal — the third coach in two years. The leaders: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku.

Belgium's "Golden Generation" — Eden Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois, Kompany — grew up in the 2010s and held FIFA's number one ranking for a record five years (2015-2018, 2022). At the 2018 World Cup in Russia the team beat Brazil 2:1 in the quarterfinal — Fellaini's goal and the counterattack that ended up in the textbooks. In the semifinal against France: a 0:1 defeat on Umtiti's header. The bronze playoff: a 2:0 win over England. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar the team crashed out in the group stage for the first time in 24 years — the end of the Golden Generation.

Qualifying meant rebuilding under Garcia. In Group G the main threat is Iran, which plays low-block and counterattacks. Matches are in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Belgium enters a new cycle: De Bruyne is 35 and playing his final tournament; the youth — Doku, Tielemans, Openda — is replacing the departed generation of Hazard and Courtois.

---