Belgium continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday when they host Kazakhstan at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park. The Red Devils are unbeaten so far, collecting seven points from three matches, and they will be eager to add another win before tougher tests arrive next month.
Rudi Garcia’s side began with a slip-up in North Macedonia, but since then they have looked sharp, putting 10 goals past Wales and Liechtenstein. With confidence building, Belgium will want to extend their strong qualifying record – they have not lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009, a run that shows just how dominant they have been on this stage.
For Kazakhstan, this is a daunting challenge. The Hawks have suffered three defeats in four games, including back-to-back 1-0 home losses to Wales and North Macedonia. Their only success came against Liechtenstein, and even that was a modest 2-0 win. Away from home, they have been poor, with 10 defeats in their last 11 trips.
On paper, Belgium should cruise to victory, but Kazakhstan will aim to stay organized and frustrate the hosts. Anything other than a Red Devils win, though, would be one of the biggest shocks of the campaign.
MORE: Why Youri Tielemans got the Belgium armband over De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois?
Belgium vs. Kazakhstan lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, rosters
Belgium head into Sunday’s clash with no fresh injury problems after their big win over Liechtenstein. Kevin De Bruyne was outstanding in midfield and is set to start again, while Brighton defender Maxim De Cuyper is also expected to keep his place after scoring last time out.
Newly named captain Youri Tielemans is in fine form, having been involved in four goals across his last two internationals. The Aston Villa star will look to extend that run and find the net in three straight matches for the first time in his career.
Belgium predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — De Cuyper, Theate, Debast, Meunier — Vanaken, Tielemans — Doku, De Bruyne, Fofana — Openda
Belgium full roster
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Mike Penders (Strasbourg), Matz Sels, Maarten Vandevoort
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Arthur Theate, Joaquin Seys
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Charles Vanhoutte
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Malick Fofana, Lois Openda, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard, Diego Moreira
Kazakhstan’s preparations have been hit by an injury setback, with defender Nuraly Alip forced off in the defeat to Wales. He remains a doubt for the trip to Belgium.
Up front, Galymzhan Kenzhebek is the player to watch after firing more shots than any of his teammates against Wales. With limited attacking options, the Hawks will hope he can trouble Belgium’s defence and give them a fighting chance.
Kazakhstan predicted lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): Anarbekov (GK) — Kasym, Maliy, Slip — Kairov, Orazov, Kasabulat, Vorogovskiy — Satpaev, Kenzhebek — Samorodov.
Kazakhstan full roster
Goalkeepers: Bekkhan Shaizada, Temirlan Anarbekov, Mukhamedjan Seysen
Defenders: Sergiy Malyi, Bagdat Kairov, Yan Vorogovskiy, Nuraly Alip, Erkin Tapalov, Ular Zhaksybayev, Alibek Kasym, Sultanbek Astanov, Damir Kasabulat
Midfielders: Serikzhan Muzhikov, Baktiyor Zainutdinov, Ramazan Orazov, Galymzhan Kenzhebek, Dinmuhamed Karaman, Islam Chesnokov, Murojon Khalmatov, Nauryzbek Zhagorov, Almas Tyulyubay, Dauren Zhumat
Forwards: Oralkhan Omirtayev, Maksim Samorodov, Ivan Sviridov, Dastan Satpaev
Belgium vs. Kazakhstan match details
- Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT / 4:45 AEST (Sep. 8)
- Location: Lotto Park, Anderlecht (Belgium)
- Competition: FIFA World Cup qualifiers
- Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
