Thibaut Courtois to miss Nations League cycle but remains in Belgium plans
Courtois received permission from Mark van Bommel to miss the Nations League cycle; he aims to return for Euro 2028 qualifiers in March 2027.
Thibaut Courtois will not play for Belgium in the upcoming Nations League cycle but has not ended his international career, the goalkeeper confirmed on 9 September 2026. The decision allows him an extended rest after a long club and international season.
Mark van Bommel, the new national team coach, gave Courtois permission to skip the Nations League stage in which Belgium will face France, Italy and Turkey. Over the next three months Belgium are scheduled to play six matches, but Real Madrid's first-choice keeper will be rested for this period.
World Cup fallout and the reason for the break
The choice follows the 2026 World Cup, where Belgium were eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals. After that exit Courtois said he was thinking about taking a break from international duty and signalled he wanted to step away from the Nations League while leaving the door open to return.
Courtois put the decision in physical terms: "Physically, I don't know if I can maintain the same pace for another four years," he said, citing the compressed schedule and the large number of matches as important factors.
Despite the pause, Courtois plans to be available again when qualifying for UEFA Euro 2028 begins in March 2027. He said he intends to compete for his place in goal irrespective of the competition for the spot.
Photo: Belgian Red Devils @BelRedDevils (X)
