Kevin De Bruyne has delivered a strong message to his Belgium teammates, admitting that the side has fallen short of expectations during a faltering World Cup campaign. The Red Devils are now staring at the possibility of an early group-stage elimination after failing to secure a win in either of their first two matches in North America.

Red Devils Battling for Form

Belgium entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament favourites, but Rudi Garcia’s men have struggled to find rhythm, settling for consecutive draws against Iran and Egypt. Their inability to convert chances has been a major concern, with their lone goal so far coming through an own goal from Mohamed Hany in the 1-1 draw with the Pharaohs.

Discussing his team’s underwhelming start, De Bruyne was forthright about the defensive lapses and concentration issues that have haunted their performances. “We made some silly mistakes, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” De Bruyne told Gazzetta. “Against Iran, we took many shots, and to be honest, we were lucky with that offside decision on Taremi’s goal. We need more balance and must prevent negative thoughts from creeping in. We have to talk things through and find a solution.”

Relying on Experience Over Individual Brilliance

The Napoli midfielder, now 34 years old, admitted that both he and long-time teammate Romelu Lukaku are no longer at their physical peak. Nevertheless, he believes their experience and leadership will be crucial if Belgium hope to advance from Group G.

“Experience is what will help us manage a situation that’s very different from what we expected,” said De Bruyne. “In major tournaments, emotions can shift quickly, and we have to handle both the highs and lows. So far, things have moved fast — we know we haven’t performed well, and that has affected our confidence. But this is the time to show even greater determination.”

Partnership Under Scrutiny

The partnership between De Bruyne and Lukaku has long been central to Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’, but questions are now being asked about whether it still delivers at the highest level. Lukaku started in the goalless draw with Iran but failed to score, prompting calls for Charles De Ketelaere to return to the starting lineup.

De Bruyne, however, insists that personal ties should not overshadow the team’s objectives. “Everyone knows how close Lukaku and I have been for years, but right now, it’s about the team,” the midfielder said. “We haven’t been up to the task, but we can still rise to it.”

Crunch Clash Against New Zealand

The situation is now straightforward for Garcia’s side: they must defeat New Zealand in their final group fixture to secure qualification. The challenge will be tougher without Lille defender Nathan Ngoy, who is suspended for the match at BC Place in Vancouver. The All Whites, though bottom of the group, showed resilience in their 2-2 draw with Iran.

The pressure is mounting on the European side to avoid a repeat of their 2022 disappointment, when they exited before the knockout rounds. With Egypt currently topping Group G, Belgium can ill afford any more “silly mistakes” if they hope to keep their World Cup dream alive — particularly as this tournament could mark the final international appearance for several of their iconic players.