Romeo Lavia Belgium World Cup snub opens door to Ghana switch

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia will not feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being omitted from Belgium’s 26-man squad announced by head coach Rudi Garcia, a decision that has quickly become one of the talking points of the tournament build-up.

Belgium, bronze medallists at the 2018 edition, head to the competition in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, with their squad still anchored by experienced figures such as Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel and Thibaut Courtois.

However, the absence of Lavia stands out given his improved campaign at club level, where he has managed 21 appearances for Chelsea this season after a difficult spell with injuries.

The 22-year-old midfielder, born in Belgium to a Congolese mother and of Ghanaian descent through his father, has represented Belgium only once at senior level, leaving his international future still open.

His exclusion has therefore reignited the possibility of a switch to Ghana, who will also compete at the World Cup in a group that includes England, Panama and Croatia.

He is still eligible for Ghana because he has only featured in ten minutes in a friendly.