Thibaut Courtois has decided to take a break from the Belgium national team following their failure at the 2026 World Cup.

Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has decided to take a break from international football after De Rode Duivels' run was halted at the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper stated he intends to take a one-year break from representing his country. He has also left the door open to return for Belgium when the 2028 European Championship qualifiers get underway.

"I want to take one year off without playing for the Belgium national team. I may come back for the Euro 2028 qualifiers, but at the end of the day that is a decision that will have to be made by the Federation," Courtois was quoted as saying by AS on Saturday, 11 July 2026.

Even so, Courtois acknowledged that his future with the national team lies entirely in the hands of the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). Should his request for a break be rejected, he noted that the 2026 World Cup quarter-final match against Spain could turn out to be his final appearance for Belgium.

Belgium were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup following a 1-2 defeat to Spain in the last eight. This loss marked the end of De Rode Duivels' campaign in the tournament.

Nearly 15 Years As A Pillar Of The Belgium National Team

Courtois has been one of the key figures in Belgium's squad for almost one and a half decades. He made his international debut for the national team in November 2011, and has established himself as his country's first-choice goalkeeper ever since.

The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has now earned 115 international caps, making him one of the most capped players in the history of the Belgium national team.

Throughout his career representing Belgium, Courtois has helped establish his nation as one of the powerhouses of European football, playing a critical role across multiple major tournaments including both the World Cup and European Championship.

Belgium Prepare For Upcoming UEFA Nations League Fixtures

Following the 2026 World Cup, Belgium have a packed international schedule ahead. Kevin De Bruyne and his teammates are set to play six UEFA Nations League matches before the end of the year.

After that, Belgium will not return to competitive action until the 2028 European Championship qualifiers, which are scheduled to kick off in March next year.

Should his plans proceed as intended, Courtois is in line to once again wear the De Rode Duivels jersey for this qualifying phase and continue his international career.