Romelu Lukaku pulls out of Belgium’s friendlies against USA and Mexico to focus on fitness, continuing a season disrupted by injuries.
Romelu Lukaku has withdrawn from the Belgium national football team squad for their upcoming World Cup warm-up matches in the United States.
The 32-year-old striker will miss Belgium’s friendlies against the United States men’s national soccer team and the Mexico national football team, scheduled to take place in Atlanta and Chicago, respectively.
Romelu Lukaku will not take part in the upcoming Red Devils friendlies in the US against the United States and Mexico.
Romelu has chosen to focus on training to further optimize his physical condition. The KBVB respects his decision and wishes him the best of luck.
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) March 24, 2026
Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 89 goals in 124 appearances, has opted to remain behind and work on improving his physical condition ahead of the upcoming tournament. A statement from the Royal Belgian Football Association confirmed the decision, explaining that the forward chose to focus on training to further optimise his fitness levels.
The powerful striker has endured an injury-hit campaign this season, limiting his involvement for Napoli and preventing him from building consistent match sharpness.
Lukaku’s most recent international appearance came in a 4-3 World Cup qualifying victory over the Wales national football team in Brussels back in June, where he found the net. Since then, the Belgian forward has missed six consecutive internationals, with his latest withdrawal highlighting the cautious approach being taken to ensure he is fully fit for the major tournament.
