Belgium Faces North Macedonia in Critical World Cup Qualifier

Ghent, Belgium – Belgium will clash with North Macedonia in a pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifying match on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Planet Group Arena. With both teams vying for top position in UEFA qualifying Group J, this match holds significant stakes.

Currently, North Macedonia leads Belgium by a single point in the standings. However, they have played one game more than the Belgians. Thus, securing a result in Ghent is vital for North Macedonia, particularly as they have not triumphed against Belgium in their previous five encounters.

In their last meeting in June, North Macedonia managed a 1-1 draw in Skopje, marking their first point after three consecutive losses to Belgium. Coach Blagoja Milevski expressed confidence in his team’s progress and aims to build on their recent 5-0 victory over Liechtenstein.

Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia will be without several key players including midfielder Youri Tielemans and star striker Romelu Lukaku due to injuries. However, Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel return to strengthen the squad as they seek to reclaim the top spot.

The Red Devils have shown impressive offensive power recently, earning two 6-0 victories against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, they have displayed moments of inconsistency, failing to score in the first half against Liechtenstein.

Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. PT / 2:45 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in via Fubo Sports Network to catch all the live action.

As both teams prepare for the showdown, North Macedonia hopes to upset the odds and maintain their position at the top of the group, making this match an exciting prospect for fans on both sides.