Belgium at the 2022 World Cup: Results, squad, scorers

Belgium's World Cup Group F fixtures

23 November: Belgium 1-0 Canada (Batshuayi 44)
27 November: Belgium 0-2 Morocco (Sabiri 73, Aboukhlal 90+2)
1 December: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Belgium's final 26-player squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Koen Casteels

Defenders: Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Meunier, Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Zeno Debast, Wout Faes

Midfielders: Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker, Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Amadou Onana

Forwards: Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Thorgan Hazard, Jérémy Doku, Loïs Openda

If one of the players initially included in a squad list picks up an injury or contracts COVID-19, he may be replaced up to the day before the relevant team's first match. In this situation, new call-ups do not necessarily have to feature on the 55-man release list. Any new player will be allocated the number of the player he is replacing in the squad.

How Belgium qualified

Group E: W6 D2 L0 F25 A6

Belgium 3-1 Wales
Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium
Belgium 8-0 Belarus
Estonia 2-5 Belgium
Belgium 3-0 Czech Republic
Belarus 0-1 Belgium
Belgium 3-1 Estonia
Wales 1-1 Belgium

Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku (5 goals)

Belgium coach: Roberto Martínez

The Spaniard spent the majority of his playing career with Wigan and Swansea, managing both before taking the reins at Everton in 2013. Became Belgium coach after UEFA EURO 2016 and led them to their best ever World Cup finish of third two years later. The Red Devils rose to first place in the world rankings shortly afterwards and stayed there until just before UEFA EURO 2020, where they were beaten by eventual winners Italy in the quarter-finals. Became the first ever Belgium coach to reach 50 victories in 2021.

Belgium captain: Eden Hazard

The 31-year-old has been persistently dogged by injuries since joining Real Madrid in 2019 but remains capable of brilliance on his day. Made his name at LOSC Lille before seven dazzling seasons at Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and League Cup, and two UEFA Europa Leagues. Only Lukaku has more than Hazard's 33 goals for the Red Devils, while he sits fourth on the all-time list of appearances for his country.

Belgium's World Cup history 

Most appearances: Enzo Scifo (17)
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku, Marc Wilmots (5)
Best performance: Third place (2018)
2018 World Cup: Third place (W2-0 vs England)

Belgium's first major splash on the world stage came when they reached the semi-finals in 1986, eventually succumbing to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina. Rarely threatened to reach those heights until making the last eight in 2014 – again falling to Argentina – before a much-fancied generation were edged by France in the 2018 semi-finals.

Belgium's EURO 2024 qualifying fixtures (Group F)

24/03/2023: Sweden vs Belgium
17/06/2023: Belgium vs Austria
20/06/2023: Estonia vs Belgium
09/09/2023: Azerbaijan vs Belgium
12/09/2023: Belgium vs Estonia
13/10/2023: Austria vs Belgium
16/10/2023: Belgium vs Sweden
19/11/2023: Belgium vs Azerbaijan