| Belgium vs Turkey | |
| MATCH | Nations League |
| DATE | 03 - 10 - 2026 |
| TIME | 12.15 AM IST |
| STADIUM | Stadium |
Belgium vs Turkey Match Preview
Belgium will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Turkey in their next Nations League fixture.
The Red Devils began their League A campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Italy, but they were unable to maintain that momentum in their second match, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against France.
With three points from their opening two games, Belgium currently sit second in Group 1, three points behind leaders France. Mark van Bommel's team still have plenty to play for during this international window, with another meeting against France scheduled for October 5.
Belgium have remained in League A throughout the history of the Nations League. Their strongest campaign came in the 2020-21 edition, when they finished fourth.
The Red Devils have faced Turkey 11 times previously, with the meetings producing three Belgian victories, five draws and three Turkish wins.
The most recent encounters came during qualification for Euro 2012. Turkey won the first meeting 3-2 at home before Belgium secured a 1-1 draw in the return fixture.
Belgium's recent record against Turkey is not particularly dominant, with the Red Devils winning only once in their last seven meetings. That statistic could give Vincenzo Montella's side confidence heading into this contest.
Turkey, however, have endured a difficult opening to the current Nations League campaign. The Crescent-Stars started with a 1-0 defeat against France before suffering a heavy 4-1 loss to Italy.
Those results leave Turkey bottom of Group 1 without a point, making the upcoming matches against Belgium and Italy particularly important.
Turkey have made significant progress in recent Nations League campaigns. They competed in League C during the 2022-23 edition before moving up to League B in 2024-25. Their promotion to League A represents another step forward, although remaining in the top division will be a major challenge.
Recent Form
Belgium – Nations League: W-L
Belgium – All Competitions: W-W-W-L-W-L
Turkey – Nations League: L-L
Turkey – All Competitions: W-L-L-W-L-L
Team News
Belgium will be without Diego Moreira, who is suspended after receiving a booking during the defeat to France.
Romeo Lavia is also a doubt after being forced off late in the previous match. Goalkeeper Mike Penders will similarly face a late fitness assessment before the game.
Dodi Lukebakio could come into the starting lineup to replace Moreira, while Kevin De Bruyne is expected to retain an important role in Belgium's attacking setup.
Belgium will also be missing several notable players, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and winger Jeremy Doku.
Turkey will welcome back goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, who has completed his suspension and is available for selection again.
Abdulkerim Bardakci and Ferdi Kadioglu could both return to the starting XI after Turkey's disappointing defeat against Italy.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler is expected to be one of Turkey's key attacking players, with the national team looking to him for creativity and inspiration. Baris Yilmaz could once again lead the attack through the middle.
With Belgium aiming to keep pace with France and Turkey desperate to secure their first points, this Nations League meeting could be crucial for both teams' hopes of improving their position in Group 1.