Doku fit but may start on bench vs New Zealand

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia faces a tactical dilemma ahead of the must-win group-stage clash against New Zealand in Vancouver. Jérémy Doku trained fully on Tuesday but is expected to start on the bench, with the option to replace an injured teammate in the second half. Zeno Debast missed the final training session in Seattle after completing an individual recovery programme. The Sporting Clube de Portugal defender remains sidelined and will undergo an MRI scan on Saturday morning local time. A positive result would allow him to resume full training in preparation for the knockout rounds. Vincent Mannaert, Belgium’s general manager, confirmed Debast’s condition is stable and progressing as planned. He stressed that the defender was never intended to feature prominently in the group stage, though his availability could become crucial if suspensions arise.

Garcia reshapes defence as Ngoy misses New Zealand

"Alles gaat zoals gepland. Voorlopig zit hij helemaal op schema," Mannaert said, underlining that Debast’s rehabilitation remains on track. Garcia and assistant Brandon Mechele will address the media around 15:00 Belgian time in Canada, where they are expected to provide clarity on both players’ readiness. The outcome will shape Belgium’s defensive options for the knockout stages.

Belgium can still reach World Cup knockout vs New Zealand

Belgium’s flight to Vancouver was confirmed, with the team scheduled to depart immediately after the final training session in Seattle.