The Inter Milan striker has only played five times this season since rejoining on loan from Chelsea in the summer.
But Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has included Lukaku in his final 26-man squad for Qatar as the Red Devils' ageing golden generation attempt to win a first major trophy.
There are places for big names like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel but AC Milan striker Divock Origi has been overlooked.
Belgium finished third at the last World Cup in Russia 2018.
They are in the same group with Canada, Morocco and Croatia.
Belgium squad: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge); Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht); Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund); Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Lois Openda (Lens), Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion)
