Lukaku Sees Curiosity About Belgium's New Generation At World Cup 2026

Belgium enter the 2026 World Cup with reduced external pressure but high internal interest, as Romelu Lukaku highlights a "new cycle" for the national team. The Opta supercomputer gives Belgium only a 2% chance of winning the tournament, yet the squad still blends experienced names with emerging talents for this campaign.

Lukaku, Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 89 goals, says the lighter expectations could help the group. After the early exit at Qatar 2022, the forward suggests the team now plays with more freedom, while still aiming to challenge deep into the knockout stages in North America.

Belgium are drawn in Group G, where Egypt, Iran and New Zealand complete the line-up. According to the Opta supercomputer, Belgium have a 52% chance of finishing top of the group. The first fixture against Egypt stands out, with Mohamed Salah expected to provide a major attacking test for Belgium's defence.

Salah recently leaves Liverpool after nine years at Anfield, and remains Egypt's main threat. During World Cup qualifying, Salah scores nine goals and provides three assists, playing a role in 60% of the Pharaohs' goals. Belgium will likely plan specific defensive strategies to limit Salah's influence in that group opener.

Despite once holding the FIFA number one ranking during the 2010s, Belgium's best World Cup finish so far is third place in 2018. The current squad still includes Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois from that Golden Generation, though Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany have retired from international duty.

To reflect how data models view Belgium at this World Cup compared with their group rivals, the Opta supercomputer projections can be summarised as follows.

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Alongside these senior players, Belgium now integrate Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana and Matias Fernandez-Pardo. This mix of ages reshapes the team's profile, as the Golden Generation label fades. There is now greater emphasis on development and continuity, rather than expectations of an immediate World Cup triumph.

Speaking about this shift, Lukaku outlines how the squad see the current moment. "For us, it's like a new cycle that has started, so I'm looking forward to that, Lukaku told Stats Perform. So, there is not much pressure. I think it's something we're very curious to see what we can do, how the new, younger generation are going to manifest themselves on the biggest stage. And then, we want to keep going as long as we can physically. [De Bruyne], [Courtois], myself, Thomas Meunier, we want to keep going as long as, physically, we're okay to help this generation achieve great things in the future. Butit's a process. So, let's see how we start the preparations on Saturday, and then prepare for the first game."

Belgium World Cup preparations and Romelu Lukaku fitness

Lukaku has not played a competitive match since March, after an injury ends the season early at Napoli. The striker makes only five substitute appearances in Serie A during that campaign. Despite that limited club involvement, Lukaku reports strong motivation and feels ready to contribute with Belgium again.

The forward explains personal feelings about returning on the biggest stage. "[I feel] excited. Fourth [World Cup finals], first time with a new generation, which is nice," he said. "And I think the team spirit is really good; the preparations are going to start Saturday, so I'm looking forward to doing that with the team and making the best out of it."

Ahead of the Egypt clash, Lukaku also assesses the task of dealing with Salah. "I think it's the hard work and education that [Salah] has for the game. I think he's somebody that wants to improve all the time, Lukaku said. He puts everything in his ability to be the best version of himself week in, week out. You can only salute him and the career that he had at Liverpool; it's something that you have to respect. He really played at the Ballon d'Or level for many, many years. And you can also see the setback that he had when he was at Chelsea. When I was there at the time, he was a young kid, but in the end, he's had an unbelievable career. For the [Egypt] national team, I think he's a very important player. He also wants to prove himself on that stage, so it's going to be a big challenge, but a nice challenge [for Belgium against Egypt], because you want to compete against the best."

As Belgium move towards the 2026 tournament, their chances on paper appear lower than in previous cycles, yet the squad contains both experienced leaders and ambitious younger players. With Lukaku, De Bruyne and Courtois still involved, Belgium aim to guide the next generation through a less pressured but still demanding World Cup campaign.