Zeno Debast was absent from the match against Spain.
According to confirmation from the Belgian Football Association (RBFA), Sporting Lisbon refused to allow Zeno Debast to play, arguing that the central defender had not yet reached a safe physical condition after suffering a thigh injury at the end of May. This decision created a major disagreement between the Portuguese club and the Belgian national team at the most crucial stage of the World Cup .
A spokesperson for the Belgian Football Association said: "Zeno Debast will not be able to participate in the quarter-final match against Spain. Zeno's club, Sporting Lisbon, has informed the player that they do not believe he is medically fit to play."
This assessment differs from that of the Belgian national team's medical staff as well as from FIFA's health and insurance agencies. Currently, Zeno is training individually under the supervision of the RBFA's Talent Development Department.
Debast joined Sporting Lisbon from Anderlecht in July 2024 and quickly became a key player in the Portuguese team's defense. However, a thigh injury sustained at the end of the 2025/26 season has kept him out of action since the end of May.
Nevertheless, coach Rudi Garcia decided to bring the 2003-born center-back to the World Cup in the hope that he would recover in time. Debast missed all four of Belgium's first matches in the tournament and was only named on the bench in the victory against the USA in the round of 16 without being used.
During his recovery, Debast returned to Belgium for further tests before rejoining the national team. After undergoing an MRI scan, the results were deemed quite positive, and the player began training again.
Sharing his thoughts on his recovery, Debast expressed optimism: "Everything is going according to plan. I feel great. As a player, it's not easy to watch your team train and play when you can't be a part of it. I'm very grateful to be here and to be able to work after returning."
The loss of Debast is a significant blow for coach Rudi Garcia ahead of the quarter-final clash against Spain at the 2026 World Cup, which takes place early tomorrow morning (July 11th, Vietnam time). While the Belgian national team's medical staff and FIFA have both assessed the player as fit to play, Sporting Lisbon remains adamant in refusing to release him, aiming to avoid the risk of a recurring injury before the new season.
The controversy between the club and the national team regarding Debast's fitness is becoming one of the most talked-about stories ahead of the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, and is putting coach Rudi Garcia in a difficult position to find a replacement in defense before the crucial clash with Spain.