Belgium will enter the tournament in 2026 during a transitional phase. The golden generation centred around De Bruyne, Hazard and co. is nearing the end of their playing careers. Under new manager Rudi Garcia, the team is building on a second strong generation. Belgium remains the favourite in Group G, however.

Manager Rudi Garcia has named three goalkeepers for the Red Devils: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens and Mike Penders – three goalkeepers who, between them, represent almost every generation, from the experienced icon to the 20-year-old debutant.

Courtois remains the world’s best goalkeeper – or at least one of the top two or three. His trophy haul with Real Madrid speaks for itself: three La Liga titles, two Champions League triumphs and numerous other trophies. Even after his serious knee injury in the 2023/24 season, he returned to top form. In March 2026, he sustained a thigh injury during the Champions League match against Manchester City and was sidelined for several weeks. However, he was back in the squad in time for the World Cup squad announcement and back in action for El Clásico.

What sets Courtois apart goes beyond mere reflexes: his command of the penalty area, his ability to cover seemingly impossible angles, and the calmness he instils in the entire defence. Belgium are not favourites to win the title – but with Courtois in goal, more is always possible than the squad suggests on paper.

Lammens joined Manchester United from Royal Antwerp in September 2025 for around €21 million, solving the Red Devils’ goalkeeping crisis. What followed was one of the most impressive goalkeeping debuts in recent Premier League history: in his first season at Manchester United, he started 30 league matches. Rio Ferdinand publicly praised him as United’s most important signing of the season. At 23 years of age, standing 193 cm tall and with a contract until 2030, he is already regarded as the goalkeeper for the next decade. For Belgium, he is the clear number two – and thus potentially just one World Cup away from becoming number one.

At 20 years old and standing at two metres tall, Penders is Belgium’s most promising young goalkeeper. The Chelsea goalkeeper is currently on loan at Racing Strasbourg, where he has started all 32 Ligue 1 matches this season and made a total of 102 saves. His nomination came as a surprise – yet it was entirely logical. For Penders, this World Cup is no guarantee of playing time, but rather the best possible learning environment alongside two of Europe’s finest goalkeepers.