Lamine Yamal and Pau Qubarsi were yet to bowl a single ball. Gavi and Nico Williams recently attended their local academy. Captain Rodrilla was on the verge of being let go after Atletico Madrid’s youth set-up lacked the necessary physicality. When Rudy Garcia lifted the last trophy, the 2010/11 Ligue 1, none of Spain’s 26-man World Cup squad had made a professional appearance and could be forgiven for not knowing. Manager of Belgium. Even the Belgians didn’t know much. They do now.
The displeasure over his appointment in January 2025 was not unfounded. He has won only two titles as a manager in more than two decades. His immediate predecessor was Domenico Tedesco: young, fresh ideas, and the only coach to win the DFB-Pokal with RB Leipzig. Tedesco sold dreams and then delivered nightmares. Amid dissension and discord, Belgium quickly fell apart. Before him was Roberto Martinez. He was put in charge of the world’s number one talent pool, the famous ‘Golden Generation’ that promised exactly what its name implied. Gold. Bronze came closest.
Belgium wanted a series winner or a name prestigious enough to inspire hope among fans who had begun to leave the national team. Conversations with Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and Xavi. Football royalty. Each pursuit met a dead end. Attention turned to Michel Preud’Homme, a name less well-known globally than the trio but still a local legend. He had personal problems. And then, out of the chaos, Rudy Garcia emerged.
Belgium head coach Rudy Garcia reacts on the sidelines during the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium, Monday, July 6, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsay Wasson)
The fans were furious, but none were more excited than former Belgium Under-21 manager Jackie Matthijsen. He sent a text to the federation’s sporting director, Vincent Manart, explaining his anger: “This selection makes no sense.”
Marc DeGris, a member of Belgium’s 1990 and 1994 World Cup squads, was equally unconvinced. His logic was blunt: foreign appointments only made sense if they were associated with prestige. “Garcia is not a big name,” he said.
Before he could even take a full step through the door, there were calls to get him back out. On Friday, at the Los Angeles Stadium, he will try to lead the team past Spain in what will be their second World Cup semi-final.
Critics have woken up to their rudeness.
systematic process
Garcia’s rebuilding of Belgium is systematic. The first, and perhaps most important, step is to bring back Thibaut Courtois.
Story continues below this ad
A captaincy dispute with Tedesco led to Courtois’ international banishment. Garcia was so experienced that he let a broken relationship weaken his team. A call was made and a flight booked to Madrid, where Courtois plays his club football. The goalkeeper said at the time that his first impression of the conversation was positive and that Garcia would be arriving in Madrid soon.
Weeks later, Garcia was in Spain. Courtois was convinced: “Garcia is a winner.” The comparison he reached for was his own club manager Carlo Ancelotti, who makes players feel good about themselves.
An integral member of the golden generation had returned home. Garcia, however, did not want the imprint of the golden generation on his vision. He wanted to form a team of his own. A team that is young.
Belgium was the fifth oldest team at Qatar 2022. At this World Cup, they sat almost exactly in the middle, ranking 24th in terms of average age. Centre-back Nathan Ngoye, midfielder Nicholas Ruskin and winger Diego Moreira, who have all played key roles, were all handed debuts by Garcia.
Story continues below this ad
Belgium head coach Rudy Garcia, right, instructs his players during a hydration break during their World Cup Round of 32 soccer match against Belgium, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassi)
He has also achieved what Martínez failed to do in Portugal: a meritocracy system suitable for popular selection. In the round of 32 against Senegal, two goals down, García dropped Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, replacing them with Nicolas Ruskin and Dodi Leukebaccio. Half-time substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored twice in three late minutes to send extra-time, with Tielemans netting from the penalty spot.
Neither De Bruyne nor Doku started the next match. Belgium beat the USA 4-1 regardless. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s record goalscorer, made only a cameo appearance from one start. It was also the lone game where he didn’t impress. Three goals, all from the bench.
This perhaps explains Belgium’s greatest strength. There is no single talisman that carries Garcia’s side, as the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Belgium ranks in the top 10 for goals, assists, shots on target and expected goals, and yet, not a single Belgium features in the top 10 in those individual categories.
Against Spain, Garcia will again rely on the collective to do the heavy lifting.
Story continues below this ad
In his first press conference, he declared, “I feel 100% Belgian.” If he beats Spain the Belgians will agree 100%.