On October 10, 2025, Belgium and North Macedonia are set to clash in a pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Planet Group Arena in Ghent, Belgium. This Group J battle features Belgium, who are one point behind leaders North Macedonia, making the stakes incredibly high for both teams. With only a few matches remaining, both squads aim to secure their positions for World Cup qualification.
Match Preview: Belgium vs North Macedonia
Belgium has demonstrated strong performances leading up to this match, including two consecutive 6-0 victories and a total of 17 goals across four group matches. Coach Rudi Garcia will depend on the attacking prowess of Kevin De Bruyne, who will link play with fellow forwards Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard. Unfortunately, midfielder Youri Tielemans will not participate due to injury, allowing Amadou Onana and Nicolas Raskin to step into more prominent roles. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is expected to defend Belgium’s goal, aided by central defenders Zeno Debast and Arthur Theate.
North Macedonia’s Recent Form
Meanwhile, North Macedonia enters the match with momentum following a convincing 5-0 win against Liechtenstein. Under the guidance of coach Blagoja Milevski, the team has won four straight competitive away games, highlighting their strength in away fixtures. Key forwards Bojan Miovski and Aleksandar Trajkovski will lead the offensive charge, supported by creative midfielders Enis Bardhi and Isnik Alimi. Defensively, Gjoko Zajkov and Andrej Stojchevski are anticipated to guard against the Belgian attack, backed by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Betting Odds and Predictions
The betting landscape gives Belgium the edge, featuring moneyline odds of -650 for a home win, +675 for a draw, and +1850 for a North Macedonia victory. The expectations for total goals are set under 3.5 goals at -190, suggesting a tightly contested match rather than a high-scoring affair.
Player Props and Key Bets
- Kevin De Bruyne to score anytime: +165
- Leandro Trossard to score anytime: +135
- Lois Lopenda to score anytime: +105
- Kevin De Bruyne to assist anytime: +108
- Leandro Trossard to either score or assist: -133
Final Predictions
Considering Belgium’s offensive strength and recent scoring, along with North Macedonia’s effective away form, a closely contested match is anticipated. Our prediction leans towards a 2-1 victory for Belgium, allowing them to regain the top position in Group J while still indicating the resilience of North Macedonia.
Match Details
Date: October 10, 2025
Location: Planet Group Arena, Ghent, Belgium
