Belgium include Lukaku in World Cup squad despite Napoli absence

Romelu Lukaku is named in Belgium's World Cup squad despite limited playing time this season.

Lukaku named despite limited action Romelu Lukaku has been included in Belgium's World Cup squad even though he has played only one hour of competitive football this season. The Napoli striker, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Wednesday, has made seven substitute appearances in the 2025-26 campaign and spent the last two months recovering from a hamstring injury while with the national team. Lukaku holds the record for Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 89 goals from 124 caps, with his most recent international appearance coming against Wales last June. Coach Rudi Garcia has still opted to select the veteran striker in his 26-man squad, giving him the opportunity to feature in his fourth straight World Cup alongside Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, and Axel Witsel. ## Garcia adds young forward to squad Coach Rudi Garcia has brought Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo into the squad as additional forward cover after the player declared his international allegiance to Belgium this week. The 21-year-old forward, born in Brussels to Italian and Spanish parents, previously represented Belgium at youth level before switching his allegiance to Spain in 2025, though he did not make any appearances for them. Fernandez-Pardo was preferred over Lois Openda, who has featured irregularly for Juventus this season, while Sporting defender Zeno Debast has been included despite picking up an injury in training. Belgium will face Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand in Group G, with all matches taking place in the United States and Canada. ## Belgium's full World Cup squad revealed 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).