Belgium World Cup squad 2022: All projected 26 players on Belgian national football team roster for Qatar

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The “golden generation” of Belgium gets what appears to be its last chance to put on a World Cup show as Roberto Martinez leads the Red Devils into the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Kevin de Bruyne and his international cohorts lived up to high expectations as young stars and led Belgium into a new age of the international game. They reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, losing 1–0 to Argentina, and finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, by far the nation’s best World Cup finish.

Now ranked second in the world, Belgium are still often underrated among many other established World Cup powers such as Brazil, France, Spain and Germany.

This team is deep and dangerous on offense, but has a number of weaknesses that teams could exploit. Still, Martinez is a top-notch coach who knows how to get the most out of his players by putting them in the best position to succeed.

Projected Belgium World Cup squad 2022

Martinez has until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which he will select his final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.

Based on World Cup qualifying squads and friendly rosters over the past year, these are the names most likely to be on Martinez’s preliminary list.

Position Player Club Age Caps
GK Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid (SPA) 30 96
GK Simon Mignolet Club Brugge (BEL) 34 35
GK Koen Casteels Wolfsburg (GER) 30 4
GK Matz Sels Strasbourg (FRA) 30 2
DEF Toby Alderweireld Royal Antwerp (BEL) 33 123
DEF Jan Vertonghen Anderlecht (BEL) 35 141
DEF Thomas Meunier Borussia Dortmund (GER) 31 58
DEF Timothy Castagne Leicester City (ENG) 26 25
DEF Dedryck Boyata Club Brugge (BEL) 31 31
DEF Jason Denayer Al Ahli (UAE) 27 35
DEF Zeno Debast Anderlecht (BEL) 18 2
DEF Arthur Theate Stade Rennes (FRA) 22 3
DEF Brandon Mechele Club Brugge (BEL) 29 3
DEF Wout Faes Leicester City (ENG) 24 1
MID Kevin de Bruyne Manchester City (ENG) 31 93
MID Youri Tielemans Leicester City (ENG) 54 5
MID Leander Dendoncker Aston Villa (ENG) 27 29
MID Amadou Onana Everton (ENG) 21 2
MID Yannick Carrasco Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 59
MID Axel Witsel Atletico Madrid (SPA) 33 126
MID Charles de Ketelaere AC Milan (ITA) 21 10
MID Dennis Praet Leicester City (ENG) 28 15
MID Adnan Januzaj Sevilla (SPA) 27 15
MID Albert Lokonga Arsenal (ENG) 22 1
MID Leandro Trossard Brighton (ENG) 27 21
MID Hans Vanaken Club Brugge (BEL) 30 22
MID Thorgan Hazard Borussia Dortmund (GER) 29 45
FWD Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan (ITA) 29 102
FWD Michy Batshuayi Fenerbahce (TUR) 29 47
FWD Christian Benteke D.C. United (USA) 31 45
FWD Dries Mertens Galatasaray (TUR) 35 106
FWD Eden Hazard Real Madrid (SPA) 31 122
FWD Divock Origi AC Milan (ITA) 27 32
FWD Jeremy Doku Stade Rennes (FRA) 20 10
FWD Yari Verschaeren Anderlecht (BEL) 21 7
FWD Lois Openda Lens (FRA) 22 4
FWD Dodi Lukebakio Hertha BSC (GER) 25 5
FWD Dante Vanzeir Union SG (BEL) 24 1

Final 26-man Belgium World Cup roster

Most players who will play for Belgium at the World Cup are already assured of their place in the squad, barring only an injury before the tournament begins.

There are a few choices for Martinez to make between young up-and-coming players, but for the most part his group is set with top talent from across the Big 5 European leagues.

There is one injury to track, as full-back Thomas Meunier suffered a broken cheekbone on October 16 on club duty, leaving his status for the World Cup in doubt. Borussia Dortmund stated that he would not play again for the club until after the World Cup, but he has not yet been ruled out of the international tournament.

Here’s a look at a plausible final 26 Martinez could select, assuming all players are fit and ready.

Position Player Club Age Caps
GK Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid (SPA) 30 96
GK Simon Mignolet Club Brugge (BEL) 34 35
GK Koen Casteels Wolfsburg (GER) 30 4
DEF Toby Alderweireld Royal Antwerp (BEL) 33 123
DEF Jan Vertonghen Anderlecht (BEL) 35 141
DEF Thomas Meunier Borussia Dortmund (GER) 31 58
DEF Timothy Castagne Leicester City (ENG) 26 25
DEF Dedryck Boyata Club Brugge (BEL) 31 31
DEF Jason Denayer Al Ahli (UAE) 27 35
DEF Zeno Debast Anderlecht (BEL) 18 2
MID Kevin de Bruyne Man City (ENG) 31 93
MID Hans Vanaken Club Brugge (BEL) 30 22
MID Youri Tielemans Leicester City (ENG) 54 5
MID Leander Dendoncker Aston Villa (ENG) 27 29
MID Amadou Onana Everton (ENG) 21 2
MID Yannick Carrasco Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 59
MID Axel Witsel Atletico Madrid (SPA) 33 126
MID Charles de Ketelaere AC Milan (ITA) 21 10
MID Leandro Trossard Brighton (ENG) 27 21
MID Thorgan Hazard Borussia Dortmund (GER) 29 45
FWD Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan (ITA) 29 102
FWD Michy Batshuayi Fenerbahce (TUR) 29 47
FWD Dries Mertens Galatasaray (TUR) 35 106
FWD Eden Hazard Real Madrid (SPA) 31 122
FWD Divock Origi AC Milan (ITA) 27 32
FWD Jeremy Doku Stade Rennes (FRA) 20 10

Belgium World Cup group

The Red Devils have been drawn into Group F. Only the top two teams in each group will advance.

Belgium are the highest-ranked team in Group F and will open the tournament against John Herdman and Canada, before taking on African powers Morocco and 2018 finalists Croatia.

With a knockout place possibly already in hand, the final game against Croatia could be a solid litmus test of how ready Belgium is for their chase of World Cup glory.

World Cup Group F fixtures and match schedule

Date Match Time (ET) Stadium
Wed, Nov. 23 Morocco vs. Croatia 5 a.m. Al Bayt
Wed, Nov. 23 Belgium vs. Canada 2 p.m. Ahmad Bin Ali
Sun, Nov. 27 Belgium vs. Morocco 8 a.m. Al Thumama
Sun, Nov. 27 Croatia vs. Canada 11 a.m. Khalifa Int’l
Thurs, Dec. 1 Croatia vs. Belgium 10 a.m. Ahmad Bin Ali
Thurs, Dec. 1 Canada vs. Morocco 10 a.m. Al Thumama

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