Belgium enter their World Cup clash against the United States on Monday seeking a fresh start, eager to shed the lingering disappointment of their so-called Golden Generation. That group, featuring stars like Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany, reached the semi-finals in Russia 2018 but fell short of winning the tournament, a failure that has cast a long shadow over Belgian football.
While remnants of that era remain—Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, and Thomas Meunier—the 2026 squad is not simply an older, tired version of its predecessor. A new generation is emerging, led by players such as Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, Jérémy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, and Diego Moreira. Though they may lack the star power of their forebears, they are solid performers, capable of troubling any opponent.
Diego Moreira: A Rising Star
Diego Moreira, a 21-year-old winger, has become a symbol of this transition. Born in Liège to a Portuguese father, former Standard midfielder Almami Moreira, and a German grandfather, Helmut Graf, who played for Standard in the 1982 Cup-Winners' Cup final, Moreira initially dreamed of playing for Portugal alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. However, after moving to Benfica at 16 and later being acquired by Chelsea's multi-club ownership group before landing at Strasbourg, he has embraced Belgium. In the crucial 3-2 win over Senegal, Moreira came off the bench after 63 minutes, replacing Hans Vanaken, and injected pace and invention on the left flank, delivering five crosses compared to Doku's two.
Despite Doku's underwhelming performances, Moreira is unlikely to start against the US, but his impact against Senegal has given coach Rudi Garcia confidence to deploy him as a substitute.
Rudi Garcia's Bold Substitutions
Garcia demonstrated tactical courage in the Senegal match, substituting high-profile players like Doku and De Bruyne when the team needed two goals. He brought on Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukébakio, recalling the spirit of Belgium's 1986 World Cup campaign. Back then, after a defeat to Mexico and a narrow win over Iraq, coach Guy Thys dropped five senior players and introduced youngsters like Stéphane Demol, Patrick Vervoort, and Georges Grün. The result was a 2-2 draw that secured progression, followed by a dramatic 4-3 extra-time win over the Soviet Union in the last 16, fueled by 20-year-old Enzo Scifo. Belgium eventually reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Argentina and Diego Maradona.
Garcia hopes a victory over the US can similarly shift the mood, creating a new identity for Belgian football. “It’s not even so much about this tournament any more, or how far Belgium might go,” the article notes. “It’s more about creating something new, shaking off the weariness and sense of underachievement that has dogged Belgian football since that semi-final in St Petersburg.”
A New Era for Belgian Football
The current squad, drawn from a country of just under 12 million, cannot be expected to consistently produce world champions. Yet the emergence of talents like Moreira, Joaquin Seys, Nathan Ngoy, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo signals a promising future. While the Golden Generation's shadow remains, Belgium's new wave is determined to forge its own path, beginning with Monday's match against the US.
