Belgium coach Rudi Garcia selects three uncapped players for World Cup camp

BRUSSELS — Belgium coach Rudi Garcia unveiled an expanded 28-man squad on Friday for a pre-World Cup training camp and friendlies in the United States, handing maiden senior call-ups to teenage Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat, Ajax winger Mika Godts and Saint-Etienne forward Lucas Stassin.

The trio, all under the age of 21, will join established internationals Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku—both returning from injury—while Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois misses out after tearing a muscle in his upper right leg during Champions League action. Courtois is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Garcia said the enlarged selection reflects both the need to manage fitness concerns and the opportunity to evaluate fresh talent ahead of the global tournament.

“This is the reason why we have three new players in the selection, three players under 21,” Garcia explained. “Talent does not wait for age.”

The coach cited his previous early promotions of Eden Hazard at Lille and Ryan Cherki at Lyon as evidence of his willingness to trust youth, adding that De Cat offers “an athletic profile we don’t have much of in Belgium.”

Belgium will face the United States on 28 March in Atlanta and meet Mexico three days later in Chicago as part of their North American tour.

Full squad: Goalkeepers: Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig) Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt) Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Nathan De Cat (Anderlecht), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona) Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Mika Godts (Ajax), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Lois Openda (Juventus), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Lucas Stassin (Saint-Etienne), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

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