Eintracht Frankfurt defender included in Belgium's World Cup squad

Belgium are the next World Cup participant to announce their squad for this summer’s tournament. Rudi Garcia called up 26 players as they look to improve on Belgium’s best result of a third-place finish in 2018.

Arthur Theate is the only player named from Germany’s top-flight league. The 25-year-old versatile defender was an unused substitute in Belgium’s unsuccessful campaign in the last World Cup, but he has played three times when they were knocked out of the Euros at the Round of 16 stage.

Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel (both Borussia Dortmund), Kevin de Bruyne (Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg), Amadou Onana (HSV) and Dodi Lukebakio (Fortuna Düsseldorf, Hertha BSC and Wolfsburg) are former Bundesliga stars in the squad that will face Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in the group stage.

New Zealand have also released their squad for the competition as former Bayern Munich youngster Sarpreet Singh is set to wear the coveted number 10 jersey. The current Wellington Phoenix attacker also had 2. Bundesliga stints at Nürnberg, Jahn Regensburg, and Hansa Rostock.

Full Belgium squad for the 2026 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Racing Strasbourg)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Maxim de Cuyper (Brighton), Koni de Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona)

Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)