Striker included despite playing only 69 minutes this season and recovering from hamstring injury. Manager says he is "out of shape."
1:33 PM
Belgium have included striker Romelu Lukaku in their 26-man World Cup squad, despite the 33-year-old playing minimal competitive football this season due to injury.
Lukaku, who turned 33 on Wednesday, has made seven substitute appearances totalling 69 minutes for Napoli in 2025-26 and scored one goal, against Verona in February. He has not played since March 6 and has spent the past two months in Belgium rehabilitating from a hamstring injury.
Manager Rudi Garcia acknowledged Lukaku's current condition while defending the selection. "Romelu has recovered, but he's out of shape, and I'm not sure he'll be able to start the matches. But he's our best striker, Belgium's all-time leading scorer," Garcia said. "We have five weeks to get him back to full fitness so that little by little he can help the team."
Lukaku holds the record as Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 89 goals from 124 international caps. His most recent appearance for the national team came against Wales in June 2025.
The squad also includes Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, along with three other remnants of Belgium's previous generation: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Girona midfielder Axel Witsel. De Bruyne has also experienced significant injury absences this season.
Garcia, a French coach, took over Belgium's management in January, replacing Domenico Tedesco. His current contract expires at the end of the World Cup. The selection includes Ajax midfielder Mika Godts among several surprise omissions from the squad.
De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois and Witsel may all be making their final World Cup appearance for Belgium.
Carlo Ancelotti named the Santos forward in Brazil's pre-list for the 2026 tournament, though his final selection remains uncertain pending fitness recovery.
The French striker posted training photos at Valdebebas on a scheduled day off, attempting to counter fan criticism over his commitment and availability.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa omitted the 39-year-old striker from the 55-player preliminary squad for the tournament in June.
Parliament voted 281-4 to remove Bolojan after the Social Democrats left the coalition and joined the far-right opposition.
The 18-year-old Spanish forward sustained a left hamstring injury Wednesday but is expected to recover in time for the World Cup.
Coach Sergej Barbarez named 26 players Monday, making Bosnia the first nation to reveal its roster for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
