Romelu Lukaku and 7 Premier League stars included in Belgium World Cup squad

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed his 26-player squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with Divock Origi out and Romelu Lukaku in.

Origi is the biggest omission from Martinez's squad after tricky start to life at Serie A champions AC Milan. The 27-year-old left Liverpool when his contract expired in the summer and has only scored one goal in his 13 appearances for Milan this season.

Martinez has put his faith in youngsters Jeremy Doku and Lois Openda, with seven Premier League stars making the cut. They are Wout Faes, Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker, Timothy Castagne, Leandro Trossard and Amadou Onana.

Several ex-Premier League players will also represent Belgium in Qatar. Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi and Eden Hazard - who's struggled for form at Real Madrid - have all made the squad.

Lukaku's inclusion is a huge positive for Belgium. The Inter Milan striker is struggling with a muscle complaint and has played just five games this season. He is Belgium's record scorer with 68 goals and found the net 11 times in 12 internationals last year.

Some of the other notable inclusions in the squad are Atletico Madrid pair Axel Witsel and Yannick Carrasco, Galatasaray veteran Dries Mertens and Borussia Dortmund winger Thorgan Hazard. There is a feeling of now or never at this World Cup for Belgium.

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The likes of Eden Hazard, Courtois, Lukaku, Tielemans, Mertens and Witsel are regarded as Belgium's "Golden Generation" but are yet to reach a major final. The closest they've come to silverware was in 2018 when they finished third at the World Cup in Russia.

Belgium have suffered many disappointments during the last decade. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. They reached the semi-finals of the Nations League in 2021 but failed to win a medal.

Belgium's World Cup campaign starts against Canada in Al Rayyan on November 23. They face Morocco in Doha four days later before taking on Croatia in Al Rayyan on December 1. They've also pencilled in a friendly against Egypt in Kuwait on November 18.

Martinez has also added Bryan Heynen, Alexis Saelemaekers, Dodi Lukebakio and Jason Denayer to the standby list. These players can be added to Belgium's squad if there are any injuries between now and the start of the tournament on November 20.

Belgium have never won a major international tournament. The closest they came was in 1980 when they lost 2-1 to West Germany in the Euros final.

Belgium's 26-player squad for the World Cup: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Koen Casteels; Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Wout Faes, Arthur Theate, Zeno Debast, Thomas Meunier; Timothy Castagne; Yannick Carrasco, Leander Dendoncker, Kevin de Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Andre Onana, Axel Witsel, Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere; Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Jeremy Doku, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Lois Openda, Thorgan Hazard.

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