Will De Cat be going to the U17 World Cup after all?
TUESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2025, 21:44 - lajoya
YOUTH The possibility that Nathan De Cat will still be going to the U17 World Cup in Qatar has resurfaced. Although Besnik Hasi made it clear earlier this week that the 17-year-old midfielder would remain in Belgium for the tournament, his name has now appeared in the national U17 squad listed on the official RBFA website.
De Cat initially seemed to accept Anderlecht's decision. "There have been discussions with Anderlecht, and I understand their position," he said Sunday evening in front of DAZN cameras after the 2-2 draw against STVV.
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Continue reading However, the situation suddenly changed on Monday evening. In the official list released by the Belgian Football Association, De Cat's name does appear among the 21 selected players; along with Mokio, he could form the midfield for our national U17 team. Behind the scenes, sporting director Vincent Mannaert is said to play a crucial role. He personally advocated for De Cat's participation in the World Cup and continued to consult with the club's management until the very last moment.
A compromise is on the table: De Cat could potentially skip the group stage and join the squad during the knockout stages in Qatar. However, that scenario remains uncertain.
For now, one thing is certain: Nathan De Cat has been included in the Belgian squad, but whether he actually flies to Qatar depends on the final talks between Anderlecht and the association. The coming days will determine whether the promising midfielder will truly live out his World Cup dream this fall.
