Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has expressed his support for Kylian Mbappé and the France national team for the remainder of the 2026 World Cup, following Belgium's elimination by Spain in the quarter-finals.
The veteran goalkeeper had hoped to face Mbappé, the France captain, in the semi-finals, based on a promise and conversation the two had shared earlier, but that prospect was dashed when Belgium were knocked out of the tournament.
Courtois said he felt a sense of frustration at not getting to face Mbappé in the semi-finals, explaining that Mbappé had told him they would definitely meet at that stage. Despite his disappointment, Courtois made a point of sending a message of support to Mbappé and the French national team, wishing them well in their upcoming matches.
Courtois had also achieved a historic milestone during the tournament, becoming the second most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history. His appearance in the Spain–Belgium quarter-final brought his total to 21 World Cup matches, just 2 behind all-time leader Germany's Manuel Neuer.