Without Thibaut Courtois, the Red Devils are aiming to start their 2026 World Cup qualifiers strong in North Macedonia.

We hope the Red Devils' next two matches will be less stressful than the last two. For Rudi Garcia’s debut, Belgium lost 3-1 in Murcia before turning things around with a memorable 3-0 win in Genk a few days later.

Honor was restored. Our national team secured its place in Group A of the Nations League and can now focus on the qualifiers for the next 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada—countries that already kicked off their campaign in March.

In this short 8-game journey, where our team is considered a favorite against opponents like Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Wales and North Macedonia, there’s no room for mistakes. It all starts this Friday in Skopje at the Toše-Proeski National Arena.

To help you place your bets wisely on GoldenVegas Sport, here’s everything you need to know about this match.

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: June 6 at 9 PM

Thibaut Courtois still absent from the Belgian squad

What should we take away from the Red Devils' latest performance in Limburg? That they took time to build their success—without panicking. That Romelu Lukaku remains as strong as ever, as shown by his brace, even if he missed a sitter earlier in the match.

But most notably, that Thibaut Courtois wasn’t on the pitch, despite having reconciled with the coach. The Real Madrid goalkeeper, who started the first leg, had withdrawn from the return due to a knee issue.

This time, the former Chelsea goalkeeper won’t even be part of the squad. And his absence is not diplomatic. He’s suffering from a lower back inflammation. The medical staffs of Real Madrid and the Belgian FA agreed that Courtois is “not ready,” and he will be numerically replaced by Nordin Jackers, Club Brugge’s backup goalkeeper.

On the field, Matz Sels will once again take the reins after a superb season in England with Nottingham Forest. So much so that he won the Golden Glove award, given to the player with the most clean sheets in the Premier League season.

Our Red Devils aren’t losing much in the change. But will that be enough to keep a clean sheet against an opponent who has already played two more qualifying games and earned an impressive 4 points out of 6, scoring four goals in the process?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: June 6 at 9 PM

Diego Moreira, Rudi Garcia’s surprise pick

The dual-nationality controversy had overshadowed the French coach’s first press conference in Tubize. Both born in Belgium, Chemsdine Talbi had chosen Morocco, and Konstantínos Karétsas opted for Greece.

“I didn’t have enough time to see whether we could attract them, and neither did Vincent Mannaert, the technical director of the Belgian Football Association. We must respect their decision and, more importantly, question whether everything was done properly on our side. Some young players still face family-driven choices and sometimes make decisions that tear them apart,” explained the coach.

In just two months, it seems the issue has been addressed. Diego Moreira, the Belgian-Portuguese winger, had recently stated in an interview that he dreamed of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. “I’ll do everything I can to make it to Portugal’s senior team, even if only to train with my favorite player,” said the Strasbourg winger.

Yet, the former Portuguese U21 player has now changed his sporting nationality. “He chose to play for Belgium. That fits with what we’ve been saying—being proactive, anticipating, and considering every young dual-national player. We want them to know they can play for Belgium. Kudos to Vincent Mannaert’s team, who pulled off the feat of making Diego eligible for selection—it wasn’t easy,” said Garcia.

Will this offensive reinforcement help Belgium win by a handicap with several goals to spare?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: June 6 at 9 PM

Captain’s armband for De Bruyne?

Our national team will need leaders to take a big step toward the 2026 World Cup—whether in North Macedonia on Friday or three days later against Wales. But one question remains: who will wear the armband?

During his first call-up, Garcia chose to rotate. Romelu Lukaku wore it for one match before handing it over to Kevin De Bruyne.

Will the midfielder now be officially named captain? That wasn’t the hot topic at the start of the week. Everyone is waiting to see whether "KDB" will sign for Napoli in Italy, as he postponed his medical exam.

“We don’t yet know where Kevin will play next season, but we’re confident he’ll make the right decision. Every choice he makes will be the right one. He has enough experience—both personally and professionally—to choose wisely,” said the Red Devils coach. “During the last international break, everyone saw how hungry and determined he still is.”

A good sign for our squad, which hopes to stay calm and confident on the road to qualification. Bet responsibly on Belgium’s match and enjoy a 25% Betxtra boost.