The 20-year-old winger has shone this season for Ajax with 14 goals and 9 assists, making him the Eredivisie's most valuable player in terms of goal contributions. Godts' performances have reportedly caught the attention of Manchester United, who initiated contact with Ajax earlier this week.
Godts refused to join Belgium's Under-21 squad in recent call-ups, but has now convinced García to showcase his talents in the upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico: "His stats and performances are impressive for a team that isn’t firing on all cylinders. He’s still young; this was the moment to see him in action," García remarked
Manager Rudi Garcìa also handed 17-year-old Anderlecht star Nathan de Cat and Saint-Étienne striker Lucas Stassin maiden call-ups. The big De Cat, who's 1.92m tall, has already played 44 games for Anderlecht's senior squad and is a mainstay in the Mauves' midfield.
Stassin joined soon-to-be Ligue 1 outfit ASSE from Westerlo in 2024 and has scored 7 goals in Ligue 2 this season, three of which came in the last three games.
“We mainly selected players who featured in most of the qualifying matches, but at the same time, this is also the last chance for a few new – and particularly young – lads to show what they’re made of," García said during Friday's press conference.
"Talent knows no age," García said about De Cat. "I gave Eden Hazard his debut at Lille at a young age and did the same with Rayan Cherki at Lyon. De Cat is very athletic and has already started 34 matches for Anderlecht this season. To make the national team, you have to play.”
Lucas Stassin is a player García wants to see in action, he said. “He’s just been promoted to Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne and plays regularly.”
Wout Faes (AS Monaco), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), and Charles Vanhoutte (Nice) all missed the cut after making the preliminary squad.
Belgium play the United States in Atlanta, GA, on March 28th, and will face Mexico three days later on March 31st in Chicago, IL.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Koni De Winter (Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne (Napoli), Nathan De Cat (Anderlecht), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Sevilla)
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Mika Godts (Ajax), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Loïs Openda (Juventus), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Lucas Stassin (Saint-Étienne), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)