Kazakhstan vs Belgium Match Preview and Team Updates

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ago 2 hours

Belgium’s national football team is set to face Kazakhstan in a crucial match for the European qualifiers of the 2026 World Cup. The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at 2 PM BST, taking place at the Astana Arena.

Kazakhstan vs Belgium: Match Preview and Team Updates

Currently, Belgium leads Group J with 14 points from six matches, maintaining a one-point advantage over North Macedonia while holding a game in hand. A victory against Kazakhstan would significantly bolster their chances of securing direct qualification.

Kazakhstan Team News

Kazakhstan will be without key players, including goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy and winger Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov. Interim coach Talgat Baysufinov has taken over after Ali Aliyev’s departure earlier this year. Notably, 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpaev, who has been impressive this season, will be expected to lead the squad. Satpaev is valued at €3 million and has scored 18 goals while providing eight assists in 40 matches this season. He is set to join Chelsea in August 2026 for €2.4 million.

Belgium Team News

Belgium faces a challenging injury crisis ahead of the match. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is recovering from hamstring surgery and will not participate. Their all-time top scorer, Romelu Lukaku, is sidelined with a thigh injury, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss out due to an adductor injury sustained during a recent match against Rayo Vallecano. Matz Sels from Nottingham Forest is expected to take Courtois’ position. Other injured players include defender Zeno Debast and forward Malick Fofana, while Thomas Meunier faces suspension. Despite these setbacks, captain Youri Tielemans has returned to fitness and is back in the squad. Rudi Garcia has also called up newcomers Romeo Vermant and Kylian Ngoy to strengthen the team.

Form and Previous Encounters

Kazakhstan’s performance in Group J has seen them struggle, currently holding fourth place with seven points from seven matches, meaning they have already been eliminated from contention. In contrast, Belgium has demonstrated remarkable form, netting 21 goals in six qualifiers, averaging 3.5 goals per game. In their previous matchup in September, Belgium decisively defeated Kazakhstan 6-0, with De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both scoring two goals.

Predicted Lineups

Kazakhstan: Seysen; Kairov, Kasym, Alip, Vorogovskiy; Zhukov, Karaman; Sviridov, Samorodov, Chesnokov; Satpayev.
Belgium: Sels; Castagne, Debast, Theate, De Cuyper; Onana, Tielemans; Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Doku; Trossard.

How to Watch the Match

The upcoming Kazakhstan vs Belgium match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports. Fans can expect an exciting showdown as both teams strive to secure points in this pivotal qualifier.