Injured Courtois To Miss Belgium’s World Cup Qualifiers

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is a doubt for their World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein after pulling a leg muscle playing for Real Madrid, the Spanish club said on Monday.

Courtois, 33, suffered an adductor injury during Madrid’s goalless league draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Madrid did not specify the estimated duration of the goalkeeper’s absence, but Spanish press reports claimed he will be out for between 10 and 12 days.

Thibaut Courtois’ season has been very complicated in terms of injuries and it continues to be so. Real Madrid announced Sunday that the goalkeeper is suffering from a new injury that will prevent him from being at the imminent international window with the Belgium national team.

“Following tests carried out on our player Thibaut Courtois by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with sacroiliitis,” reads the club’s statement, which also will not be able to count on him in the first training sessions of Xabi Alonso at the head of the white team.

After the arrival of Domenico Tedesco and the arrival of Rudi Garcia on the bench of Belgium, the Madrid goalkeeper returned to international duty and was already called up in the March break. This time he was again in his country’s squad, but he will miss the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia (Friday 6th) and Wales (Monday 9th).

Courtois could therefore be back for their LaLiga match against Elche on November 23.

Belgium will qualify for next year’s World Cup if they win in Kazakhstan on Saturday.

They round off their Group J campaign against Liechtenstein three days later.