Belgium are potential dark horses at World Cup 2026, with the bookmakers listing them as the 10th-favourites to go all the way.Drawn in a group alongside Iran, Egypt and New Zealand, the Red Devils will fancy their chances of entering the round of 32 as group winners. From there, the goal will be to advance as far as possible.Belgium finished third in Russia eight years ago, before crashing out in the group stage in 2022. Plenty has changed since then, not least the man in the dugout: Rudi Garcia, the former Roma and Marseille head coach, will lead the team this summer.Belgium will use a 4-2-3-1 formation which can morph into a 4-3-3 depending on the precise positioning of the attacking midfielder. They are a national team in transition, combining members of the old guard from 2018 with fresher blood.There is less expectation on Belgium in 2026 than there was four years ago, and Garcia will look to use that to his team’s advantage.Rudi Garcia’s first tournamentRoberto Martinez departed as Belgium boss after the team’s disappointing display at World Cup 2022. He was replaced by Domenico Tedesco, but the German was dismissed following a last-16 exit at Euro 2024.Garcia has had 17 months with the Red Devils ahead of this summer’s competition, as he embarks on his first international tournament as a player or a coach.Prediction for Head CoachGarcia has shown himself to be a flexible tactician. He has used a back three at times during his career, but Belgium’s lack of top-class centre-backs means that is not really an option in North America. “We have to believe we can go toe-to-toe with any team,” Garcia told FIFA recently.The star player: Kevin De BruyneAlong with Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel and Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne is one of four players in the Belgium squad to have won more than 100 caps. Now plying his trade for Napoli, the 34-year-old knows this could be his last World Cup appearance, so he will be determined to make the most of it.Tactically, he has an important role to play. At times De Bruyne will position himself as a No.10; on other occasions, he will drop deeper into midfield. That flexibility is key to how Belgium play.Prediction for Star PlayerKevin De Bruyne’s peak years are behind him, but he is still more than capable of influencing games at the highest level. A complete footballer who blends technical and physical attributes like few other attacking midfielders, De Bruyne can both create and convert chances. If he excels, Belgium could go far.Belgium starting 11 vs Egypt predictionsPositionExpert selectionSelection statusThe punter strategyGoalkeeperThibaut CourtoisLOCKED IN One of world’s best goalkeepers. Reflexes still sharp at 34. Big-game player.Right-BackThomas MeunierUP FOR GRABSExperienced right-back ready for third World Cup. Timothy Castagne provides alternative.Centre-BackZeno DebastLOCKED INYoung centre-back who can step into midfield with the ball. Excellent passing range.Centre-BackBrandon MecheleUP FOR GRABSCombative, robust defender. Arthur Teate and Koni De Winter other options.Left-BackMaxim De CuyperLOCKED INAttack-minded left-back who can also play higher up. Whips crosses into the box.Central Defensive MidfielderAmadou OnanaLOCKED INRangy, box-to-box midfielder who will contribute with and without the ball. Adds dynamism to engine room.Central Defensive MidfielderYouri TielemansLOCKED INTeam captain who makes the team tick. Technically excellent and sets the tempo.Right-WingerLeandro TrossardUP FOR GRABSHas an eye for goal, but prefers to operate from the left. Competition provided by Charles De Ketelaere.Central Attacking MidfielderKevin De BruyneLOCKED INElite attacking midfielder in his prime. Drives forward in possession and creates chances.Left-WingerJeremy DokuLOCKED INWing wizard with the speed and trickery to give any full-back twisted blood. Improved end product.StrikerRomelu LukakuUP FOR GRABSBelgium’s all-time leading goalscorer. Has had a difficult season with injury.How to bet on the Belgium World Cup squadThere are specific betting markets relevant to the Belgium starting XI for World Cup 2026. One of the most popular is the anytime goalscorer market. Romelu Lukaku is the obvious choice here given his track record for the national team, although injury concerns make Kevin De Bruyne an interesting alternative. Some bookmakers also allow you to put money on a player registering an assist. The aforementioned De Bruyne is a creative presence at No.10, but perhaps Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku is the better bet given his form towards the end of the Premier League campaign.Another individual player market worth watching is cards. Given his position in the centre of the park, Amadou Onana will be expected to stick his foot in and break up play. At the back, Brandon Mechele’s lack of pace could be exploited by opposition forwards and lead to him having his name taken by World Cup referees.FAQ about the 2026 Belgium World Cup squad1. How many times have Belgium won the World Cup?Belgium have never won the World Cup before. Their best ever showing came in 2018, when the Red Devils reached the semi-finals and went on to win the third-place play-off. The 2026 edition will be Belgium’s 15th World Cup appearance, which means only eight national teams have featured more often than the Red Devils.2. Which players are injured and missing from the starting 11?At the time of writing in early June, Belgium have no major injuries to contend with, although Romelu Lukaku is short of match fitness after a tricky season at Napoli.Rudi Garcia will nevertheless have to manage his squad carefully in the heat and humidity of North America, although two of their Group G games are in the relatively cool cities of Seattle and Vancouver.3. Are there any changes to Belgium’s usual starting 11?There have been several changes to the Belgium starting XI since Euro 2024, specifically the 1-0 loss to France in the round of 16. Thibaut Courtois is back between the posts, but Jan Vertonghen and Yannick Carrasco have retired, while Wout Faes and Lois Openda have been left out of the squad.Eight players in the Belgium squad have fewer than 10 caps to their name.Stay up to date with all the latest World Cup tips & predictions, World Cup Top Goalscorer Odds, World Cup Group Winner Odds and all the best World Cup Betting Offers and Free Bets in our dedicated betting hubAbout the authorGreg LeaGreg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootballCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. 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