Belgium vs Egypt: Red Devils Begin FIFA World Cup Journey

Belgium arrive in Seattle with the weight of expectation on their shoulders and the wind of momentum at their backs. On Monday night, under the lights at Seattle Stadium, the Red Devils open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Egypt in Group G, carrying the look – and the swagger – of genuine contenders.

They have earned it.

Rudi Garcia’s side strolled through qualifying without a single defeat, brushing aside opponents with a blend of authority and ease that tends to travel well into major tournaments. That rhythm has not broken in the build‑up. A controlled 2-0 win over Croatia, followed by a ruthless 5-0 dismantling of Tunisia, has only sharpened belief inside a squad already rich in talent and self-confidence.

This is not a team sneaking into a World Cup. It is one walking through the front door.

Defensive headache for Garcia

The only cloud on Garcia’s horizon sits in the heart of his defence. Zeno Debast, the young centre-back whose composure has impressed throughout the cycle, is sidelined with a leg injury. He has made the trip, but he will not feature in this opener and may not be ready until later in the tournament.

His absence forces a reshuffle in the most unforgiving area of the pitch. Garcia is expected to turn to a makeshift pairing of Brandon Mechele and Joel Ngoy at centre-back, a duo who know the system but lack the established chemistry of a long-term partnership. How they cope with the tension of a World Cup curtain-raiser will go a long way to shaping Belgium’s night.

Everywhere else, the news is kinder. The rest of the squad is fit, hungry, and in form.

The big call up front

If the back line is an enforced puzzle, the attack is a luxury problem. Garcia’s key decision lies at the tip of his 4-2-3-1.

Romelu Lukaku brings scars and memories to tournaments like this – the kind of striker who can bully defences, pin centre-backs, and turn half-chances into headlines. Yet Charles De Ketelaere offers something different: a drifting, intelligent false nine who can drop into pockets, link play, and free the runners around him.

The choice will say plenty about Garcia’s approach. Go with Lukaku and Belgium lean into power and penalty-box presence. Go with De Ketelaere and they double down on fluid movement and interchange, trusting their creators to overwhelm Egypt with angles and overloads rather than sheer force.

De Bruyne at the controls

Whatever the decision up front, the shape around it looks settled. Belgium are expected to set up in that familiar 4-2-3-1, with Kevin De Bruyne at the heart of everything. When he plays, the pitch seems to tilt. His passing range, his ability to find gaps that others don’t even see, turns routine possession into constant threat.

Behind him, the double pivot of Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans offers balance and bite. Onana brings legs and aggression, Tielemans the passing rhythm that keeps Belgium ticking and drags opponents into uncomfortable positions.

Out wide, the danger is obvious. Jeremy Doku, with his raw pace and direct running, will be tasked with tearing at the Egyptian back line, stretching the game and forcing defenders to turn. On the opposite flank, Leandro Trossard offers guile and sharp movement, drifting inside to combine with De Bruyne and the central striker.

It is an attacking unit built to dominate the ball and suffocate resistance.

Expected XI and the stage ahead

The likely Belgium starting XI: Courtois; Meunier, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere.

Kick-off is set for 8pm BST on Monday, 15th June, with viewers in the UK able to watch it live on BBC One.

Belgium come into this World Cup as more than dark horses, but tournaments are not won on reputation or warm-up form. They are won on nights like this, when the noise rises, the pressure bites, and a heavily backed side has to prove it can carry the weight.