Thibaut Courtois

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Thibaut Courtois' prospects for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are marked by his clear desire to participate, his recent return to the Belgian national team, but also ongoing concerns about his injury history and recent performance critiques.

Courtois has openly stated his ambition to play in the 2026 World Cup, expressing a hope to conclude his international career on a positive note. His return to the Belgian national team in March 2025 under new coach Rudi Garcia signals a resolution to a previous conflict with former manager Domenico Tedesco, which had seen him step away from the national squad since June 2023. This reintegration, however, was not without controversy, as it led to fellow goalkeeper Koen Casteels' decision to retire from international football.

Despite his stated intentions and return to the national setup, Courtois' recent fitness has been a recurring concern. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in August 2023 and a meniscus tear in March 2024, leading to him missing a significant portion of the 2023-24 season with Real Madrid. While he made his return in May 2024 and played in the Champions League final, further injuries have followed. In June 2025, he was diagnosed with sacroiliitis, a back injury that ruled him out of Belgium's 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against North Macedonia and Wales. Most recently, in November 2025, Courtois sustained a muscular issue in his right leg, although this was reported as "not major" with an estimated recovery time of around twelve days, causing him to miss crucial World Cup qualifiers for Belgium.

In terms of club performance, Courtois has been active for Real Madrid, participating in 18 La Liga matches in the 2025/2026 season, where he conceded 14 goals and kept 8 clean sheets, achieving a save percentage of 71.93%. Notably, he led Europe's top five leagues in saves in 2025 with 174. However, late 2025 saw some criticism emerge regarding his performance and leadership at Real Madrid, with reports suggesting a decline in his save percentage and an increase in costly errors during high-pressure situations.

The Belgian national team appears well-positioned for the 2026 World Cup, topping Group J in their qualification campaign and being one win away from direct qualification as of November 2025. Courtois' availability and top form will be crucial for Belgium's aspirations in the tournament, assuming he can maintain his fitness over the next year. His history as a Golden Glove winner at the 2018 FIFA World Cup underscores his potential impact if fully fit and in form.