Belgium National Football Team: The Legacy of the Red Devils

Known globally as the Red Devils, the Belgium men's national football team is managed by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). While cycling is traditionally viewed as the national sport of Belgium, football has emerged as the most popular, evolving from early 20th-century beginnings into a modern powerhouse of European football.

The team's journey is marked by historic peaks, including an Olympic gold medal and a climb to the number one spot in the FIFA World Rankings. Today, they continue to compete at the highest levels of international football, playing their home matches at the King Baudouin Stadium.

"Belgian Red Devils" airbus with trident logo, pictured in 2016

Key Facts

The Belgium squad at the start of a friendly game against the Netherlands, 1966

Nickname: The Red Devils
Highest FIFA Ranking: 1st (multiple periods between 2015 and 2022)
Most Capped Player: Jan Vertonghen (157 appearances)
All-Time Top Scorer: Romelu Lukaku (93 goals)
Major Honours: Olympic Gold Medal (1920), FIFA World Cup Third Place (2018)
Current Head Coach: Mark van Bommel

Historical Evolution

The Belgian national team before a training session in 1977

Early Years and Olympic Glory

Belgium played its first international match on May 1, 1904, resulting in a 3–3 draw against France in Uccle. The early era was characterized by a mix of influences; for instance, the first A-squad in 1901 included four Englishmen.

Football team in uniform — The first Belgium A-squad in 1901 featured four Englishmen.

The team's first major global success came during the 1920 Olympic Games held in Antwerp. Playing on home soil, Belgium secured the gold medal, a crowning achievement that remains a highlight of their sporting history.

A successful penalty kick, seen from the back of the net — In the 1920 Olympic football final at the Olympisch Stadion in Antwerp, Robert Coppée scored a penalty kick for Belgium.

World Cup Milestones and the Golden Ages

Belgium was a pioneer in the FIFA World Cup, participating in the inaugural 1930 tournament where their match against the United States was the joint first ever World Cup game.

Match phase with aerial play — United States–Belgium in 1930 was the joint first ever World Cup match.

The team experienced a significant "Golden Age" around 1980, reaching the final of the UEFA European Championship, where they finished as runners-up after a match against West Germany. This era established Belgium as a formidable continental force.

Scheme of football pitch with the line-ups of a red team in 4-4-2 formation against a white team in 5-3-2 formation — Line-ups of the Euro 1980 final: Belgium (red) against West Germany

A second golden age arrived in the 21st century. This period saw the team reach its highest ever FIFA ranking of 1st (held from November 2015 to March 2016 and again from September 2018 to March 2022). The pinnacle of this era was the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where the Red Devils finished in third place.

Traditional red home jersey during the 2018 World Cup where the team finished third.

Team Statistics and Records

Diego Maradona and Argentina won 2–0 to knock Belgium out of the 1986 World Cup.

The Belgian squad has been defined by legendary individuals. Jan Vertonghen holds the record for the most appearances, while Romelu Lukaku stands as the most prolific goalscorer in the nation's history.

Jan Vertonghen is Belgium's most capped player with 157 appearances.

Romelu Lukaku is Belgium's top goalscorer with 93 goals.

The team's competitive record spans multiple tournaments, from the Olympic Games to the UEFA Nations League, where they reached the finals in 2021, finishing fourth.

Belgium National Team Major Tournament Performance
Competition	Best Result	Year	Total Medals/Podiums
FIFA World Cup	3rd Place	2018	1
UEFA European Championship	Runners-up	1980	1
Olympic Games	Gold Medal	1920	2 (Gold, Bronze)
UEFA Nations League	4th Place	2021	0

Recent Performance and Future Outlook

Belgian defender maneuvering around the Algerian goal — Belgium (in red) playing Algeria at the Mineirão at the 2014 World Cup

Under the leadership of head coach Mark van Bommel, Belgium continues to be a competitive force. Recent fixtures in 2025 and 2026 show a strong trend of high-scoring victories, particularly in World Cup qualification matches against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan.

The team's recent 2026 World Cup campaign saw them progress through the Round of 32 and Round of 16, eventually falling to Spain in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought 2–1 defeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Journalist, seated in the stands and speaking into a microphone — Gust De Muynck's live coverage during Belgium–Netherlands in 1931

Old cartoon of an association football match with the goalkeeper in the middle who jumps and hits the ball — Illustration of Belgium's game against France in April 1918: some of such unofficial wartime matches served as charity fundraisers.

Belgian fans wearing red at the 2018 World Cup in Kaliningrad — Crowd of Belgian fans in Kaliningrad Stadium at the 2018 World Cup

Match phase with two outfield players from each side — Illustration of a Netherlands–Belgium cup match at Rotterdam's Schuttersveld pitch in 1905

Player on the pitch in national team outfit — Paul Van Himst in 1964

Eden Hazard, former team captain and third top scoring player for Belgium[199]

Aerial play with two Belgian players and the Luxembourg keeper trying to touch the ball — Hectic phase during the goal-rich Olympic win against Luxembourg in 1928 (5–3)

Who is the all-time leading goalscorer for Belgium?

Romelu Lukaku is the top goalscorer for the Belgian national team, having scored 93 goals in 132 appearances.

When did Belgium win its only Olympic gold medal in football?

Belgium won the gold medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics, which were hosted in Antwerp.

What is the highest FIFA ranking Belgium has ever achieved?

Belgium has reached the number 1 spot in the FIFA World Rankings twice: first from November 2015 to March 2016, and later from September 2018 to March 2022.

Who is the most capped player in the history of the Red Devils?

Jan Vertonghen is the most capped player, with a total of 157 appearances for the national team.

What was Belgium's best finish in the FIFA World Cup?

Belgium's best result in the FIFA World Cup was third place, achieved during the 2018 tournament in Russia.