Preview: Belgium vs Kazakhstan - prediction, team news, lineups

Belgium will be looking to avoid a major upset when they host Kazakhstan at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in a World Cup 2026 qualifier on Sunday.

The Red Devils have got seven points from three games, and they will be looking to improve that total when they host a struggling Hawks side.

Match preview

Belgium have an opportunity to build some serious momentum as they look to secure their third win of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rudi Garcia’s men kicked off the group stage with a disappointing draw away at North Macedonia, but they have since scored 10 goals and picked up a couple of wins over Wales and Liechtenstein.

The Red Devils have crucial games coming up next month against North Macedonia and Wales, and they will be hoping to enter those matches full of confidence.

Belgium boast a tremendous record in World Cup qualifiers, topping the group in the last three cycles without tasting a single loss. Their last defeat in a World Cup qualifying fixture took place in October 2009.

Kazakhstan, on the other hand, will require some kind of miracle in order to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup.

The Hawks have made a woeful start to their campaign, losing three of their four games – including a couple of recent 1-0 home defeats against Wales and North Macedonia.

Ali Aliyev and his men picked up their sole group victory away in Liechtenstein, and even that was not all that convincing, with the visitors managing a 2-0 success.

The win over Liechtenstein was also their sole win in 11 away matches – the other 10 games all ended in defeats for Kazakhstan.

Belgium World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

D W W

Belgium form (all competitions):

L L W D W W

Kazakhstan World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

L W L L

Kazakhstan form (all competitions):

W L W L L L

Team News

Belgium have no new injury concerns after their win over Liechtenstein. Kevin De Bruyne enjoyed a terrific performance and is expected to start again, and the same goes for Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper, who scored on Thursday.

Newly appointed captain Youri Tielemans directly contributed to four goals in his last two international matches, and the Aston Villa man is now looking to score in three successive international games for the first time in his career.

Unlike their opponents, Kazakhstan have one injury concern following their defeat to Wales earlier this week as Nuraly Alip was forced off during the match, making him a doubt for Sunday’s game.

In terms of goalscoring threats for the visitors, Galymzhan Kenzhebek is the man to watch, considering he produced more shots than any other player against Wales.

Belgium possible starting lineup: Courtois; De Cuyper, Theate, Debast, Meunier; Vanaken, Tielemans; Doku, De Bruyne, Fofana; Openda

Kazakhstan possible starting lineup: Anarbekov; Kasym, Maliy, Slip; Kairov, Orazov, Kasabulat, Vorogovskiy; Satpaev, Kenzhebek; Samorodov

We say: Belgium 3-0 Kazakhstan

Belgium spread their goalscoring wings against Liechtenstein, and we expect a similar scene against a poor Kazakhstan team.

The Red Devils need to build a bit of momentum ahead of next month’s key qualifiers, and with a squad full of quality, they should not have too many problems getting through the Hawks.

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