Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has refused to rule out Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens starting ahead of Thibaut Courtois at the 2026 World Cup, saying the 23-year-old is in contention for the number one shirt this summer.
Lammens joined United last summer from Royal Antwerp in a move championed by goalkeeping scout Tony Coton, who had tracked the Belgian since he was 17 years old.
Coton personally pushed for Lammens’ arrival at Old Trafford, going against other club officials who preferred Emiliano Martinez as Andre Onana’s replacement.
United had gone so far as to agree personal terms with the Aston Villa veteran before reversing course.
The young goalkeeper repaid that faith, impressing in his early appearances for the club and earning his first senior Belgium call-up in March 2025.
His rise since then has been steady. Lammens kept a clean sheet on his Belgium debut as the Red Devils beat Liechtenstein 7-0 to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Garcia has now gone further, as confirmed by Futbol de Inglaterra, stating that Lammens could start the tournament ahead of Courtois, with the two goalkeepers battling for the same spot.
Courtois remains one of the most decorated stoppers in the world. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has earned 107 caps for Belgium since 2011, appeared at three World Cups, and won the Golden Glove at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Displacing him would be no small thing. But Garcia’s comments suggest the competition is genuine, not ceremonial.
Courtois has been sidelined with injury and ruled out for up to six weeks.
Belgium open their World Cup campaign in June. Whether Garcia hands Lammens or Courtois the gloves when it matters most is a question he will carry into the tournament.
