Belgium’s Coach Addresses Lukaku’s Participation Against Egypt in 2026 World Cup

Rudy Garcia, the head coach of the Belgium national team, has clarified the status of striker Romelu Lukaku for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, stating that the player will not start in the highly anticipated match against Egypt in the group stage.

The Belgian team is preparing to compete in Group G, which also includes Iran and New Zealand, with aspirations to perform better than their last outing in Qatar 2022.

In an interview with Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Garcia remarked, “Our primary goal is to advance beyond the group stage, which would be an improvement compared to what happened in the 2022 World Cup. After that, we will see what can be achieved based on our opponents.”.

He added, “The favorites to win the title are France, Spain, Argentina, and possibly England and Brazil. We are no longer the team that topped the FIFA rankings for six consecutive years, but we will enter the tournament with a strong competitive spirit.”.

Garcia also discussed Lukaku’s condition after he suffered a serious muscle injury that sidelined him for most of the season with Napoli. He noted, “I expected his condition to be worse after such a long absence; however, he has recovered well. I hope he will get regular playing minutes in the near future.”.

The Belgium coach emphasized Lukaku’s importance to the team: “I am pleased with his return because Belgium does not have another player with his qualities. However, we need to handle his comeback with caution. I know everyone wants to see him start against Egypt, but that will not happen. We will take it step by step.”.