Coach Rudi Garcia said "everyone" expects his Belgium team to be eliminated by Spain in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, but backed his side to pull off a famous victory.

Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, European heavyweights France and Spain were widely regarded as the leading contenders for the title, thanks to the remarkable depth and quality of their squads as well as their recent form.

Belgium's football association said Sunday it was "astonished" at FIFA's decision to suspend USA forward Folarin Balogun's red card, allowing him to play against Belgium in the World Cup last-16 game.

England take on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the World Cup on Wednesday looking for a place in the last 16 while co-hosts the USA prepare for the biggest match in their football history.

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku is preparing to fly back to join the national team at the World Cup after the winger returned to England to be with his wife, who gave birth to a boy on Monday.

Only his back was visible. Just the back, with the Number 10 emblazoned on it. And a football resting at his feet.

Belgium's all-time leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku will miss his country's visit to the United States for two 2026 World Cup warm-up matches, the Belgian football federation (RBFA) announced on Tuesday.

Elsewhere Manchester City star Erling Haaland's goal lifted Norway past Estonia, Luka Modric was among the scorers in Croatia's 5-1 rout of the Czech Republic, and the Faroes Islands left it late to down Gibraltar 2-1.

Italy were held to a 2-2 draw by Belgium on Thursday after Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off as they squandered a 2-0 lead in Nations League A Group 2.

Kevin de Bruyne scored twice as Belgium opened their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Israel behind closed doors in Debrecen in Hungary.

Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam became the first woman in history to win three consecutive Olympic heptathlon crowns on Friday, sealing victory ahead of Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

"We have a new team with a lot of young boys. I'm already getting a little older and I want to show with the Devils in my last years how to behave as a player and as a leader," he said.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was not included in Belgium's Euro 2024 squad named on Tuesday as he recovers full fitness following a season marred by injury.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out of Euro 2024, national team coach Domenico Tedesco said Tuesday.

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Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini called his five years at Shandong Taishan "among the best of my life" as he bid an emotional farewell to China.

The visitors had been rocked by a row between new coach Domenico Tedesco and veteran goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the build-up to the game, and made a slow start before Lukaku pounced with two close-range finishes towards the end of the first half

Thibaut Courtois has refused to make the trip to Tallinn for Belgium's Euro 2024 qualifier against Estonia on Tuesday after being overlooked for the stand-in captaincy last week.

The Red Devils coach Domenico Tedesco chose playmaker De Bruyne for the position after Real Madrid's Hazard, who turned 32 in January, ended his Belgium career following last year's World Cup

The 32-year-old has not played a minute for Madrid in La Liga or the Champions League since the World Cup however.