Liechtenstein take on Belgium in what is a lop-sided FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.

Belgium continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday with what appears, on paper, to be a routine assignment against minnows Liechtenstein in Vaduz. For the Red Devils, victory is essential to keep pace in Group J, while the hosts will simply be hoping to avoid another heavy defeat.

Sitting 204th in the FIFA World Rankings, Liechtenstein know that a first-ever qualification for a major tournament is well beyond their reach. Instead, their focus is on incremental progress, something that has been sorely lacking so far. They have opened their campaign with three consecutive defeats, failing to score a single goal in the process.

Back-to-back home losses against North Macedonia and Kazakhstan were followed by a 3-0 defeat away to Wales in June, leaving Konrad Fünfstück’s side rooted to the bottom of the group. A 4-0 friendly thrashing by Scotland last time out only added to their woes, extending their losing run to five internationals.

The last time Liechtenstein avoided defeat was in October of the previous year, when they ground out a goalless draw with Gibraltar in the Nations League. While Thursday’s contest marks their first-ever international meeting with Belgium, the gulf in class between the sides suggests it would take a miracle for the hosts to take anything from the game.

By contrast, Belgium arrive in Vaduz fully expecting to add three more points to their tally. Rudi Garcia is now four games into his tenure as head coach after replacing Domenico Tedesco earlier this year, and while results have been mixed, his team has shown resilience.

After edging Ukraine 4-3 on aggregate to avoid relegation from Nations League A, Belgium opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw away to North Macedonia. They then came close to another slip-up against Wales, squandering a three-goal advantage before Kevin De Bruyne rescued them with an 88th-minute winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory.

That result leaves Belgium third in Group J, three points behind Wales and four adrift of leaders North Macedonia. However, the Red Devils crucially hold two games in hand over both sides and remain in control of their own destiny. With this trip to Liechtenstein followed by other winnable fixtures, Garcia will expect his team to climb the table swiftly.

History suggests Belgium will be confident. The Red Devils have been formidable in World Cup qualifying over the past decade, winning 23 and drawing five of their last 28 qualifiers. Against a team that struggles to compete even against Europe’s lower-ranked nations, Belgium will view anything less than a comfortable victory as unacceptable. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein head into Thursday’s clash without any fresh injury or suspension concerns, which will come as a rare piece of good news for Konrad Fünfstück. However, given their struggles in both defence and attack, the challenge remains more about organisation and discipline than personnel. The coach is expected to keep faith with the core of his squad, most of whom play their club football domestically or in neighbouring lower divisions.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel will once again be between the posts and is expected to be kept extremely busy against Belgium’s firepower. In defence, a back five is likely to line up with Livio Meier at right-back, Max Göppel at left-back, and a central trio of Lars Traber, Sandro Wieser, and Jens Hofer, tasked with trying to frustrate the Red Devils’ forwards.

The midfield is likely to consist of Aron Luchinger, Nicolas Hasler, and Michele Sele, who will need to provide defensive cover while also trying to build any rare attacking moments. Up front, Willy Pizzi and Fabio Luque Notaro are the leading candidates to form a strike partnership, though Ferhat Saglam and Dennis Salanovic are also options should Fünfstück opt for fresh legs or a tactical switch during the game.

Liechtenstein are therefore expected to operate in a 5-3-2 formation against Belgium. Benjamin Büchel will be in goal, behind a defensive five of Livio Meier, Lars Traber, Sandro Wieser, Jens Hofer, and Max Göppel. The midfield trio will see Aron Luchinger, Nicolas Hasler, and Michele Sele provide balance and cover. In attack, Willy Pizzi and Fabio Luque Notaro should start as the front two, hoping to seize on any counterattacking chances that come their way.

Probable Lineup (5-3-2): Buchel; Meier, Traber, Wieser, Hofer, Goppel; Luchinger, Hasler, Sele; Pizzi, Luque Notaro

Belgium

Belgium will travel to Vaduz without two important players. Midfielder Amadou Onana of Aston Villa has been forced to withdraw due to injury, while Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku also misses out after sustaining a problem that rules him out of this month’s fixtures. These absences mean Rudi Garcia will have to adjust his setup, with fresh opportunities for others to step forward.

One boost for the Red Devils comes in goal, where veteran stopper Thibaut Courtois is set to return after missing the June internationals. In front of him, the defensive line is expected to include Thomas Meunier at right-back, Maxim De Cuyper on the left, and a central partnership of Zeno Debast and Arthur Theate.

In midfield, Youri Tielemans and Hans Vanaken should form the double pivot, offering balance between control and creativity. Further forward, captain Kevin De Bruyne will take charge in the number 10 role, flanked by Alexis Saelemaekers on the right and Jérémy Doku on the left, both of whom will provide width and attacking penetration. With Lukaku absent, Loïs Openda, newly signed by Juventus, will lead the line as the lone striker, tasked with converting Belgium’s dominance into goals.

Belgium are therefore expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Liechtenstein. Thibaut Courtois will start in goal, shielded by a back four of Thomas Meunier, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, and Maxim De Cuyper. Youri Tielemans and Hans Vanaken will sit in midfield, anchoring play and linking defence with attack. Ahead of them, Alexis Saelemaekers and Jérémy Doku will operate on the flanks, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in central attacking midfield. Leading the line, Loïs Openda will spearhead the attack and look to continue his impressive rise on the international stage.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Meunier, Debast, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Vanaken; Saelemaekers, De Bruyne, Doku; Openda

Key Stats

• This will be the first time Liechtenstein and Belgium have faced each other in an official international match.

• Liechtenstein are on a five-match losing streak in all competitions, conceding 12 goals and failing to score a single one during that span. Their last positive result was a 0-0 draw against Gibraltar in October 2024.

•  Belgium have lost none of their last 28 World Cup qualifying matches, winning 23 and drawing five. Their last defeat in a World Cup qualifier came way back in 2009 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

•  Liechtenstein have conceded at least two goals in each of their last six home fixtures.

• Belgium have scored at least two goals in seven of their last eight World Cup qualifiers.

Player to Watch

Kevin de Bruyne

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When Belgium need a moment of inspiration, there are few players more reliable than Kevin De Bruyne. The SSC Napoli midfielder showed his class once again in June, scoring a dramatic late winner against Wales to keep Belgium’s qualification hopes on track. With his unmatched vision, precise passing, and ability to dictate the tempo, De Bruyne remains the heartbeat of the Red Devils.

Against a defensively vulnerable Liechtenstein side, De Bruyne’s influence will likely prove decisive. Whether threading passes through tight spaces, creating chances from set pieces, or arriving late in the box to finish himself, the 33-year-old has the ability to unlock even the most compact defences.

With Romelu Lukaku sidelined, the creative burden on De Bruyne is even greater. His link-up with Jérémy Doku and Loïs Openda will be central to Belgium’s attacking threat, and he is expected to orchestrate much of their forward play in Vaduz. If Belgium are to cruise to the convincing win they are tipped for, De Bruyne will almost certainly be at the heart of it.

Prediction

Liechtenstein 0-5 Belgium

Liechtenstein’s defensive fragility and lack of firepower suggest they will be in survival mode from the outset. Belgium, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings and Romelu Lukaku leading the line, should have far too much quality and depth. Expect the visitors to dominate possession, create a raft of chances, and eventually wear down the hosts. For Liechtenstein, the challenge will be limiting the damage.