Kevin De Bruyne returned to Belgium’s training base at Tubize with a smile and a clear purpose: the 35-year-old is not ready to walk away from international football. After repeatedly questioning his future with the Red Devils, the midfielder has committed himself to Belgium’s 2026-27 Nations League campaign.
With 124 caps behind him, De Bruyne said the energy of a changing Belgium squad has persuaded him to continue. His role may now be different, with a new generation expected to carry more responsibility, but he believes he can still help set the standard.
Quick facts
- De Bruyne, 35, has won 124 caps for Belgium.
- He has agreed to take part in the 2026-27 Nations League.
- Belgium face Italy on Friday, Turkey on 2 October, and France on 28 September and 5 October.
- His first Napoli start of the season came against Arsenal in the Champions League on 9 September.
- De Bruyne has completed three full 90-minute matches since returning in August.
The Napoli player said he feels sharp despite a delayed start to his club season. He had only a limited number of training sessions after joining the Italian side, which initially kept him out of the starting line-up, but he has quickly found his rhythm.
“I am very well,” De Bruyne said. “Physically, I already feel fit and I think my level is genuinely good. I was surprised by the condition I had when I came back in August.”
He pointed to three full matches without difficulty as proof that his body has responded well. Napoli handed him his first start against Arsenal in the Champions League on 9 September.
New Belgium coach Mark van Bommel travelled to Naples to discuss De Bruyne’s plans after the World Cup. The midfielder said the manager asked directly what he wanted to do, while several Belgium players also encouraged him to remain involved.
“There was a lot of energy in the national team after the World Cup,” De Bruyne said. “The players asked me what I wanted to do, and many told me to stay. That made me want to still be here.”
De Bruyne said he had told Van Bommel that he was returning to assist the group, rather than expecting to dominate every minute. He accepts that younger players must now take on a larger share of the responsibility.
That could also mean spells on the bench. He has already begun Napoli’s season as a substitute in three matches and said he had shown on his appearances that he could still make an impact.
Belgium’s schedule leaves little room for sentiment. Four matches in 11 days begin with Italy on Friday, before meetings with France on 28 September and 5 October, separated by the Turkey fixture on 2 October.
“It is a very difficult programme,” De Bruyne said. “Almost nobody will play all four matches. The coach will make changes.”
Belgium enter what De Bruyne described as a mini-tournament, with several opponents also starting under new coaches. Early results will indicate whether the Red Devils can reach the Nations League semi-finals, but the immediate task is to absorb Van Bommel’s ideas and a new style of play quickly.
De Bruyne sees the campaign as an early step towards Euro 2028. He believes Belgium have significant depth among their younger players, many of whom have earned strong transfers and now have room to develop into decisive international performers.
“They have given me energy,” he said of the younger group.
Looking back at Belgium’s World Cup, De Bruyne acknowledged that the team needed fortune in its 3-2 extra-time win over Senegal in the last 32. He said some performances were below par, while others were strong.
He missed the 4-1 victory over the United States in the round of 16 after suffering adductor discomfort against Senegal. De Bruyne said he could have played through the issue, having featured with more serious injuries in the past, but accepted that the coaching decision proved correct.
Belgium then produced a strong display in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Spain, ending the tournament among the world’s top eight. For De Bruyne, the final outcome was a positive one — and not an ending.
