- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Belgium’s Immigrant Footballers
at the 2026 World Cup
Several of Belgium’s most famous footballers come from families that migrated to the country, helping the Red Devils become one of Europe’s top teams.
By The Immigrant Times
Matías Fernández-Pardo, who currently plays for Lille, is, aged 21, the youngest member of the Belgian World Cup team. Romelu Lukaku, a Napoli player, scored against New Zealand, Senegal, and the US. Nathan Ngoy received his first senior call-up earlier this year. (From left to right)
World Cup update (7 July 2026)
After a 4:1 victory over the US, the Belgian team reaches the quarter-finals of the World Cup
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an impressive 4–1 victory over co-hosts the United States. The match followed controversy after US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had spoken to FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the governing body lifted US player Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension. Belgium captain Youri Tielemans later said the episode had helped motivate his team.
On the pitch, Belgium proved the stronger side throughout. Players featured in this article played a central role in Belgium’s progress, with Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku and Dodi Lukebakio contributing goals and assists during the tournament. Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals.
Introduction
July 2026: Belgium produced one of the standout performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating the United States 4–1 to reach the quarter-finals. The victory highlighted the quality of a Belgian squad whose success reflects decades of immigration that have helped shape its national football team.
For this article, The Immigrant Times identifies players who were either born outside Belgium or have at least one parent born abroad. Eight members of Belgium’s World Cup squad meet this criterion, with family roots extending from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal to Ghana, Portugal, Spain, and Guinea.
Immigration and Belgian football
Belgium’s national football team has evolved over the past fifty years. After the Second World War, the country experienced waves of immigration, initially from southern Europe and later from Morocco, Turkey, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other African nations. Many of these families settled permanently in Belgium, and their children and grandchildren became integral to all aspects of Belgian society, including football.
The influence of immigration has been particularly evident in the national team. Several of Belgium’s most celebrated footballers have come from families who settled in the country from abroad, helping transform the Red Devils into one of Europe’s top football teams. Players with family roots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Senegal, and other countries have become key figures in Belgium’s success at the World Cup and the European Championships.
The 2026 World Cup squad continues that tradition. Several of Belgium’s leading players are either immigrants themselves or the children of immigrant parents. Together, they reflect the country’s diverse society and show how successive generations of newcomers have contributed to Belgian football at the highest international level.
Belgium’s World Cup squad:
Players with migrant family backgrounds
(In alphabetical order)
Koni De Winter
Born on 12 June 2002 in Antwerp. His father is Belgian, while his mother is of Congolese-French background. De Winter also holds Belgian, Congolese and French citizenships.
Position: Centre-back
Club career: De Winter developed through Juventus' youth academy in Italy before making his senior debut for the Turin club. Loan spells in Serie A supported his growth before he established himself as one of Belgium’s most promising young defenders and earned a transfer to AC Milan.
Current club: AC Milan
International career: Having represented Belgium at various youth levels, De Winter made his senior debut in 2024. He was chosen for Belgium’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Jeremy Doku
Born on 27 May 2002 in Antwerp. His parents emigrated from Ghana before his birth.
Position: Winger
Club career: Doku began his football development with Anderlecht before transferring to Rennes in France, where his speed and dribbling skills drew widespread attention. In 2023, he joined Manchester City, becoming one of Europe’s most exciting attacking talents.
Current club: Manchester City
International career: Doku represented Belgium at youth level before making his senior debut in 2020. He has become an important attacking player for the national team and was selected for Belgium’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Matías Fernández-Pardo
Born on 3 February 2005 in Brussels. His father is Spanish, and his mother is Belgian of Italian descent, granting him eligibility to represent several countries internationally.
Position: Forward
Club career: Fernández-Pardo progressed through the youth systems of Belgian football before signing with Lille in France, where he became recognised as one of the country’s most promising young forwards.
Current club: Lille
International career: Having represented Belgium at youth level, Fernández-Pardo was selected for the senior national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming one of the youngest members of Belgium’s squad.
Romelu Lukaku
Born on 13 May 1993 in Antwerp, he is the son of parents who emigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo prior to his birth. His father, Roger Lukaku, was an international footballer.
Position: Striker
Club career: Lukaku made his professional debut for Anderlecht before enjoying successful spells with Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma, and Napoli. Widely regarded as one of Belgium’s greatest footballers, he has won major domestic honours in England and Italy.
Current club: Napoli
International career: Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer, Lukaku, made his senior debut in 2010 and has represented his country at multiple World Cups and European Championships. He was once again chosen to lead Belgium’s attack at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Romelu Lukaku scored an injury-time goal in Belgium's 4:1 win over the US.
Romelu Lukaku scored in Belgium's victory over Senegal
Romelu Lukaku contributed a goal in Belgium's 5:1 win over New Zealand
Dodi Lukebakio
Born on 24 September 1997 in Asse, near Brussels. His parents emigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo before his birth.
Position: Winger / forward
Club career: Lukebakio came through Anderlecht’s youth academy before playing in Belgium, France, England and Germany. After establishing himself in the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin, he joined Sevilla, where his pace and goalscoring ability made him a regular first-team player. He transferred to Benfica in 2025.
Current club: Benfica
International career: Lukebakio made his senior Belgium debut in 2020 and has represented his country at major international tournaments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Diego Moreira
Born on 6 August 2004 in Liège. His father is former Portuguese international footballer Almami Moreira, while his mother has Guinean roots. Moreira was eligible to represent Belgium, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau before choosing Belgium.
Position: Winger / wing-back
Club career: Moreira started his youth career with Standard Liège before joining Benfica’s academy in Portugal. After moving to Chelsea, he gained senior experience in France and Belgium before joining Racing Strasbourg, where his versatility and attacking talent established him as one of Belgium’s most promising young players.
Current club: Racing Strasbourg
International career: Having represented Portugal and Belgium at youth level, Moreira committed to Belgium and was selected for the senior national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nathan Ngoy
Born on 10 June 2003 in Brussels, Ngoy is of Congolese descent and also holds citizenship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Position: Centre-back
Club career: Ngoy advanced through Anderlecht's youth system before transferring to Lille in France, where he developed into one of Belgium’s most promising young defenders. A series of confident performances earned him a spot in Belgium’s World Cup squad.
Current club: Lille
International career: After representing Belgium at youth level, Ngoy received his first senior call-up in 2026 and was selected for Belgium’s squad at the FIFA World Cup.
Amadou Onana
Born on 16 August 2001 in Dakar, Senegal. Onana moved to Belgium with his family as a child and grew up in Brussels. His mother is Senegalese and his father is Cameroonian.
Position: Midfielder
Club career: Onana began his youth career in Belgium before joining the academy of German club Hoffenheim. He later moved to Hamburger SV and, following impressive performances in Germany, transferred to Lille in France. After spells with Everton and Aston Villa, he established himself as one of Europe’s leading defensive midfielders.
Current club: Aston Villa
International career: Eligible to play for both Belgium and Senegal, Onana chose Belgium and made his senior international debut in 2022. He quickly established himself as a regular in midfield and was selected for Belgium’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sources: Royal Belgian Football Association: Belgium men’s national team squad and player profiles; FIFA: 2026 FIFA World Cup squad lists, player profiles and tournament information; official club websites (Aston Villa, Manchester City, Napoli, Benfica, Lille, Racing Strasbourg, AC Milan and others where applicable): player biographies and career histories; Reuters: World Cup reports, Belgium squad updates and verified football news; BBC Sport: match reports and tournament coverage; Transfermarkt: player career histories and transfers; Encyclopaedia Britannica: biographical cross-checks where appropriate.
Further reading from The Immigrant Times: France's immigrant footballers at the 2026 World Cup || England's immigrant footballers at the 2026 Football World Cup || Germany's Immigrant Footballers at the 2026 Football World Cup ||
COMMENTS
FOLLOW