Qatar 2022

Qatar 2022: Why is Romelu Lukaku not playing for Belgium vs. Canada?

Belgium make their debut in Qatar 2022 against Canada on Matchday 1 of Group F. Unfortunately, Romelu Lukaku won't be playing for his team in its first FIFA World Cup fixture.

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Updated on
April 21, 2025 11:55AM EDT

**© Carl Court/Getty Images**Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium arrive in Qatar 2022 with high aspirations. Aiming to build off a great run in their last FIFA World Cup appearance,Roberto Martinez has selected a star-studded roster to try and take the nation to new heights. Romelu Lukaku, of course, is part of the squad.

The Inter Milan forward, who opened up on his tough life story just a few days before Russia 2018, has been able to make the list though he will miss Belgium’s debut in Qatar.

That leaves Martinez with a difficult decision to make, as replacing the world-class strikeris not an easy task. Let’s take a look at why Romelu Lukaku is missing Belgium’s first games in this tournament.

Why isn’t Romelu Lukaku playing for Belgium againstCanada in Qatar 2022?

Romelu Lukaku was ruled out for Belgium’s first two games in Qatar 2022 due to a biceps femoris muscle injury. The striker spent nearly two months on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury and barely made it on time for the World Cup.

Lukaku returned to action in late October for Inter Milan against Sampdoria, but suffered a setback during that game that is now preventing him from playing in Qatar.Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.

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