Belgium national football team squad transitions

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois announced his decision to opt out of the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, stating he will only be available in the event of an “emergency injury situation involving other goalkeepers.” While Courtois remains available for Euro 2028 qualification matches, his decision drew criticism from analyst Johan Boskamp, who argued that allowing players to select their own fixtures sets a “difficult precedent for the rest of the squad.”

Following the departure of Rudi Garcia, head coach Mark van Bommel is preparing to announce his first squad selection for a dense sixteen-day international period. The schedule includes matches against Italy, France (twice), and Turkey. Van Bommel is expected to use a broad squad for rotation, and Courtois will be absent from the selection. Other veteran players, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, are expected to be included despite ongoing discussions regarding their long-term futures with the national team.

Recent developments have further complicated Van Bommel’s goalkeeper selection. Matz Sels has officially retired from international football following discussions with the head coach, citing disappointment over his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup. With Courtois skipping the Nations League to manage his workload and Sels retired, Van Bommel faces a depleted pool of veteran options. Potential candidates for the upcoming matches include Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt, and Lucca Brughmans. The coach is scheduled to make his first official squad announcement on Friday, September 18, at the national training center in Tubeke.