Courtois threatens Belgium with an international retirement… and sets one condition for withdrawal

Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has threatened to retire from international football following his 2026 World Cup bye against Spain.

Courtois suffered the injury moments before conceding the goal in Belgium’s 2-1 win over SpainYesterday, Friday, at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, in the quarterfinals of the World Championship.

Courtois said in a statement published by the Spanish newspaper “Marca” after the game. “We will see what happens with my future in the national team.”

He explained. “Maybe I want to take a break from the Europa League, which is not considered important, before coming back to participate in the UEFA Nations Cup qualifiers.”

“This decision has to be made with the Belgian Football Association and either they approve it or this game (against Spain) was the last for me.”

Courtois has had a busy career with Belgium, particularly at the World Cup, where he is the second-most capped goalkeeper in the tournament’s history with 21, just two behind Germany’s Manuel Neuer.