Hours before the anticipated quarterfinal clash against Spain at the 2026 World Cup, the Belgian national team found itself in an unexpected crisis after a dispute erupted with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon over the medical condition of defender Zeno Debast, a dispute that could deprive the "Red Devils" of one of their top defensive assets at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Belgium faces the prospect of playing Spain without their defender Zeno Debast (22), after the Belgian Football Federation announced that Sporting Lisbon informed the player that he was not medically fit to play, an assessment that clearly contradicts the opinion of the national team's medical staff, as well as the assessment of the medical and insurance bodies of FIFA.

The Belgian Federation said in an official statement: "Zeno Debast will not be available for the quarterfinal match. His club, Sporting Lisbon, informed the player that he is medically unfit to play. This assessment differs from that of our medical team, as well as from the assessment of FIFA's medical and insurance bodies."

Debast had sustained a thigh injury while playing for Sporting Lisbon, which caused him to miss the start of Belgium's World Cup campaign. He only returned to training at the end of June, after Belgium had secured top spot in their group.

Despite the statement from the Belgian Federation, the matter is not yet closed. A source close to Sporting Lisbon revealed to The Athletic that the club is in daily contact with the Belgian Football Federation to monitor the player's condition.

The source added that a meeting will be held between representatives of the club and the Belgian Federation before the quarterfinal match in Los Angeles, where Debast's medical condition will be reviewed again before a final decision is made on his possible participation.

Debast has not played a single minute in the World Cup so far, as he continues to follow an individual training program away from group training, according to German newspaper Bild.

His potential absence would be a heavy blow for the Belgian national team, especially since the young defender, despite being only 22 years old, has extensive international experience, having played 26 matches for his country, and was part of Belgium's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.