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Belgium
UEFA · G1 · Pot 1
Group favouritesGroup G fixtures
Key players to watch
Kevin De Bruyne
MF · Napoli
Still the creative heartbeat at a fourth World Cup; decisive passing, long-range shooting and the man Belgium turn to for solutions.
Playmaker · set pieces
Jeremy Doku
W · Manchester City
Electric, unpredictable dribbler who top defences struggle to handle one-on-one; Belgium's most dangerous runner.
Wide threat
Romelu Lukaku
FW · Napoli
All-time top scorer (89) and the focal point — but a real fitness gamble after barely playing this season following a hamstring injury.
Striker · fitness watch
Youri Tielemans
MF · Aston Villa · C
Captain and the balanced midfield base; ties the side together between the veterans and the new generation.
Captain · midfield
Amadou Onana
MF · Aston Villa
Powerful, physical presence in midfield that Belgium previously lacked; breaks play up and drives forward.
Midfield anchor
Thibaut Courtois
GK · Real Madrid
One of the world's best goalkeepers, back at a fourth World Cup; a huge factor in any tight knockout tie.
Elite keeper
Goals & output
De Bruyne supplies, Lukaku finishes (fitness permitting), with Doku and Leandro Trossard providing width and Charles De Ketelaere another option. If Lukaku isn't right, goalscoring becomes a bigger question than the talent suggests.
Set-piece duties
Penalties
Kevin De Bruyne
Free kicks
Kevin De Bruyne
Corners
Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne is the primary taker across penalties, free kicks and corners — among the best dead-ball deliverers in the world. With Lukaku and Onana attacking the box, set pieces are a major weapon.
Discipline read
▲Experienced and controlled, around the tournament average; fouls tend to be tactical rather than reckless.
Recent form
The golden generation finished third in 2018 but imploded at a group-stage exit in 2022 amid infighting. Rudi Garcia — in his first international job — has rebuilt around a younger core while keeping De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois and Witsel, and they qualified unbeaten as winners of their UEFA group.
Head-to-head history
v Egypt (15 Jun)
Negligible history
Little meaningful record; a marquee opener in Seattle between De Bruyne and Salah.
v Iran (21 Jun)
Negligible history
No meaningful prior record; a test of Belgium's patience against a disciplined Iranian block in Los Angeles.
v New Zealand (27 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting; Belgium would be heavy favourites in Vancouver on the final day.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Clear Group G favourites with the quality to top it and reach the latter stages. The caveats are Lukaku's sharpness and defensive solidity against the best. Backing them to win the group is the sound play.