New Belgium coach Mark van Bommel just dropped his first squad list for the Nations League, and six Serie A players are officially in for the Red Devils’ tough Group A matchups against Italy, France, and Turkiye! This squad includes some serious talent, like Charles De Ketelaere, who was absolutely electric right here in the Emerald City just a couple months ago.
Van Bommel Unleashes Serie A Powerhouses
Van Bommel, a former Serie A player himself from his Milan days in the 2011-12 campaign, took over as coach this summer and he’s not messing around. He’s bringing in the big guns from Italy’s top league. We’re talking Milan defender Koni De Winter, Bologna’s new buy Arthur Theate, Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Parma’s Mandela Keita, Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere, and Milan winger Diego Moreira. Remember De Ketelaere? That dude was shining bright for Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026, during their 4-1 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 victory against the USA! He was a key part of that performance right in our backyard. Plus, Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda, who only *just* left Serie A, are also on the roster.
Nations League Schedule Is No Joke
This isn’t a warm-up, folks. Belgium’s in Nations League Group A, and the schedule is brutal from the jump. Van Bommel’s debut as coach kicks off away to Italy on September 25. Then they’re hosting France on September 28, which is going to be an absolute slugfest. After that, they take on Turkiye on October 2, and then hit the road to visit France again on October 5. The group stage wraps up on Turkish soil on November 12 and then they’re back home to face Italy on November 15. Every single game is massive.
This squad, with its heavy Serie A influence and players like De Ketelaere bringing that big game Seattle Stadium energy, will be under intense pressure. Can Van Bommel immediately get these Red Devils firing on all cylinders against Italy next week? We’ll be watching to see if this new era starts with a bang!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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