Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Football

Belgium national football team

The Belgium national football team is the men’s international football team of Belgium.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Belgium national football team is the men’s international side governed by the Royal Belgian Football Association. Known as the Red Devils, they have competed since 1904 and play most home matches at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

What it is

Belgium’s national team represents the country in FIFA and UEFA competitions. It played its first official match on 1 May 1904 and has since become a regular in major tournaments. The team’s nickname, the Red Devils, reflects Belgium’s national colours and is used in Dutch, French, and German.

Key details

The team is controlled by the Royal Belgian Football Association. Its top scorer is Romelu Lukaku, and its best World Cup result is third place at the 2018 tournament. Belgium also won the Olympic football tournament in 1920. As of 10 July 2026, the team had played 868 official matches.

Why it matters to Canadians

Belgium is a frequent opponent for Canada in international football and appears in FIFA and UEFA coverage relevant to Canadian fans. The team’s competitive history offers context for Canada’s own matches and tournament ambitions.

In short

  • Belgium’s men’s team has played since 1904 and is governed by the Royal Belgian Football Association.
  • Nicknamed the Red Devils, they play home games at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
  • Best World Cup finish: third place in 2018; top scorer: Romelu Lukaku.
  • Belgium is a regular opponent for Canada in international football.
Canadian angle

Belgium is a frequent opponent for Canada in international football contexts and is relevant to Canadian readers through FIFA and UEFA competition coverage.

Quick questions

What is the Belgium national football team?
It is Belgium’s men’s international football team, representing the country in FIFA and UEFA competitions.
What is Belgium’s best World Cup result?
Belgium finished third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Who is Belgium’s all-time top scorer?
Romelu Lukaku is listed as Belgium’s top scorer in the provided sources.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_national_football_team
    Supports: First official match in 1904, governing bodies, home stadium, match record as of 10 July 2026.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_national_football_team
    Supports: Nickname, FIFA code, top scorer, coach and captain fields.
  3. FootballHistory.org — https://www.footballhistory.org/national/belgium.html
    Supports: Historical tournament achievements including 2018 World Cup third place and 1980 European Championship runner-up finish.
  4. FotMob — https://www.fotmob.com/teams/8263/overview/belgium
    Supports: Home stadium, current ranking, squad size, current head coach.
  5. National Football Teams — https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/20/2026/Belgium.html
    Supports: Governing body, founding year, FIFA entry year, confederation.
  6. Soccerbase — https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=275
    Supports: Current squad player data and recent national-team roster details.