Belgium_at_the_FIFA_World_Cup
Belgium at the FIFA World Cup
Overview of Belgium at the FIFA World Cup
Belgium have appeared in the finals tournament of the FIFA World Cup on 14 occasions, the first being at the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 where they finished in 11th place and played the first ever World Cup match against the United States. The inaugural FIFA World Cup final was officiated by Belgian referee John Langenus.
.jpg){kind=link}
Traditionally, Belgium's greatest rival is the Netherlands. The two countries have met each other twice in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with one win for Belgium (USA 1994) and one draw (France 1998). The team that has played the most against Belgium in the finals is the continuum USSR-Russia: five times, with three victories for Belgium and two for the Soviet Union.[1]
Belgium's best finish in the World Cup is third, at the Russia 2018 tournament. Belgium previously finished fourth in the Mexico 1986 competition.
Belgian's first five appearances at the FIFA World Cup between 1930 and 1970 were not successful, as they failed to advance beyond the first round. After two scoreless defeats at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, Belgium scored their first two World Cup goals in 1934 against Germany, by virtue of Bernard Voorhoof. However, both in 1934 and 1938 the Red Devils went out with a single loss. In 1954 they held England to a draw (4–4) and in 1970 they achieved their first World Cup win, against El Salvador (3–0).
Belgium reached six successive World Cups from 1982 through 2002 by playing qualification rounds, a record bettered only by Spain whose 2018 World Cup is their ninth consecutive qualification (a streak going back to 1986). Every other nation with an equal or longer string of appearances has had the streak "interrupted" by automatic qualification as the host or the defending champion (the 2006 tournament was the first for which the defending champion does not automatically qualify). On top of that, in that era the Belgian team reached the second phase five out of six times.
Their fourth-place finish in the 1986 was their best placement in their World Cup history, until 2018 when they finished third after beating England (2-0) in Saint Petersburg.
1930 FIFA World Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 4 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 2 |  Paraguay |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 | |
| 3 |  Belgium |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
1934 FIFA World Cup
The group stage used in the first World Cup was discarded in favour of a straight knockout tournament.
1938 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
According to journalist Henry Guldemont, some of his Swiss colleagues regarded the 1954 Belgian team as "favourites for the world title" after a promising 4–4 opener against England.[3][4] However, in the second and last group match against Italy, Belgium was defeated 1–4 and was unable to proceed to the finals.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  England |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 3 | Advance to the knockout stage |
| 2 |  Switzerland |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 3 |  Italy |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 4 | Belgium |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 1 |
Notes:
| England | 4–4 (a.e.t.) | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
Broadis  26', 63'Lofthouse 36', 91' |
Report | Anoul 5', 71' Coppens 67'Dickinson 94' (o.g.) |
1970 FIFA World Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Soviet Union |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5[lower-alpha 1] | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Mexico |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 5[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 3 | Belgium |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 |  El Salvador |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 0 |
Notes:
| Soviet Union | 4–1 | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Byshovets 14', 63' Asatiani 57'Khmelnytskyi 76' |
Report | Lambert 86' |
1982 FIFA World Cup
In the first game of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, held at Camp Nou, Belgium celebrated one of their most famous victories: a 0–1 win over defending champions Argentina with a goal by Erwin Vandenbergh. After pushing through to the second group stage of that tournament, Belgium was stunned by a Polish hat-trick from Zbigniew Boniek. The decisive match against the Soviet Union ended in a 0–1 loss.
Group 3
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 5 | Advance to second round |
| 2 |  Argentina |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 4 | |
| 3 |  Hungary |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 3 | |
| 4 | El Salvador |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | 0 |
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Poland |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Soviet Union |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Belgium |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
1986 FIFA World Cup
Four years later they achieved their best World Cup run to that point when they placed fourth at Mexico 1986. Picked up as the best third-placed team, in the knockout phase Belgium surprisingly won against favourites Soviet Union after extra time (3–4). Different from the previous World Cup, the Red Devils were able to surmount an opponent's hat-trick (this time from Igor Belanov), something that only Brazil and Austria achieved as well in World Cup history (respectively in 1938 and 1954).[5] Belgium also beat Spain on penalties after a 1–1 draw, but they conceded a 2–0 loss against eventual champions Argentina in the semifinal - both goals scored by football icon Diego Maradona. In the third-place match Belgium lost to France (4–2) after extra time. Captain and midfielder Jan Ceulemans and goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff were the first Belgian players to be selected in the All-Star Team of a World Cup. Enzo Scifo was elected as best young player of the tournament.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Paraguay |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Belgium |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Iraq |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Belanov 27', 70', 111' (pen.) |
Report | Scifo 56' Ceulemans 77'Demol 102'Claesen 110' |
Spain  | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Señor 85' |
Report | Ceulemans 35' |
| Penalties | ||
Señor  Eloy  Chendo Butragueño Víctor |
4 – 5 | Claesen Scifo Broos Vervoort L. Van Der Elst |
France  | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Ferreri 27' Papin 43'Genghini 104'Amoros 111' (pen.) |
Report | Ceulemans 11' Claesen 73' |
1990 FIFA World Cup
In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Belgium survived the group phase by wins against South Korea and Uruguay (2–0 and 3–1). In the second round they did well against England, dominating the match by periods and with Enzo Scifo even hitting the woodwork twice.[6] With a persisting 0–0 penalties seemed unavoidable, but eventually they lost in the last minute of extra time after a "nearly blind" volley by David Platt.[7] Scifo was elected as second best player of the 1990 World Cup after Lothar Matthäus.[8]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Belgium |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 | |
| 3 |  Uruguay |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 |  South Korea |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
1994 FIFA World Cup
In the 1994 FIFA World Cup two 1–0 wins in round 1 against Morocco and the Netherlands were remarkably not enough to finish second, but Belgium advanced as they were among the best four third-placed teams. In the second round they lost to title defenders Germany (3–2). During this last game, the Belgians were frustrated that Swiss referee Kurt Röthlisberger had not awarded them a penalty kick when German defender Thomas Helmer brought down their striker Josip Weber in the penalty area with a bump from behind.[9] After the match, Röthlisberger was sent home. Michel Preud'homme was elected as best goalkeeper of the tournament.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Netherlands |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Saudi Arabia |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Belgium |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 | |
| 4 |  Morocco |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 |
1998 FIFA World Cup
In 1998 Belgium was one of only three teams, along with hosts and eventual world champions France and Italy, not to lose a single game. Three draws in the first round – against Netherlands, Mexico and South Korea – proved not enough to reach the knockout stage. In 1998 Enzo Scifo and Franky Van der Elst appeared in their fourth World Cups, setting a Belgian record.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Mexico |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 5 | |
| 3 | Belgium |
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 |  South Korea |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 1 |
| Belgium | 1–1 |  South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nilis 7' |
Report | Yoo Sang-Chul 71' |
2002 FIFA World Cup
With two ties, the 2002 FIFA World Cup did not start well for Belgium, but the team improved during the tournament. Captain Marc Wilmots was notable for scoring in every match of the first round. Belgium won the decisive group match against Russia with 3–2 and in the second round they had to play against eventual champions Brazil. In this 1/8th final, referee Peter Prendergast disallowed a headed goal by Wilmots that would have given Belgium a 0–1 lead, after a "phantom foul" on Roque Júnior.[10] Eventually Brazil won 2–0, but Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted after this match that Belgium was a tough edge and after the tournament he declared that the match against the Red Devils had been the hardest for Brazil to win.[11] With the World Cup final still to go, the team did win the tournament's fair-play award.[12] Marc Wilmots equalled the record of Enzo Scifo and Franky Van der Elst by appearing in 4 World Cup squads, although he did not play in his first World Cup in 1990. Wilmots also scored his 5th World Cup goal against Russia, which made him Belgium's top scorer in World Cup Finals matches until the 2018 world cup when Romelu Lukaku also scored his 5th World Cup goal.[13]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Japan (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Belgium |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 |  Russia |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Tunisia |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 1 |
2014 FIFA World Cup
In 2014, Belgium started as group favourites and beat all group opponents with the smallest margin. Thereafter, they advanced to the round of 16 and played the United States. The Red Devils needed extra time to proceed to the next stage (2–1), where they faced Argentina. In a balanced quarter-final against the Albiceleste, the World Cup ended for Belgium as they failed to equalize after Gonzalo Higuaín's early goal.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Algeria |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Russia |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | South Korea |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 1 |
2018 FIFA World Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | England |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Tunisia |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Panama |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 |
| Belgium | 5–2 | Tunisia |
|---|---|---|
| E. Hazard 6' (pen.), 51' Lukaku 16', 45+3'Batshuayi 90' |
Report | Bronn 18' Khazri 90+3' |
Brazil  | 1–2 | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Renato Augusto 76' |
Report | Fernandinho 13' (o.g.) De Bruyne 31' |
2022 FIFA World Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Croatia |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 5 | |
| 3 | Belgium |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 4 | |
| 4 |  Canada |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0 |
Tournaments
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
| FIFA World Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Host(s) | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1930 | Uruguay |
Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Squad | Participated as invitees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1934 |  Italy |
Round of 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | Squad | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1938 | France |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Squad | 2nd | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 | Brazil |
Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1954 | Switzerland |
Group stage | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | Squad | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1958 |  Sweden |
Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1962 |  Chile |
3rd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1966 | England |
Play-off | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 | Mexico |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Squad | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974 |  West Germany |
Did not qualify | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978 | Argentina |
2nd | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Spain |
Second group stage | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Squad | 1st | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Mexico |
Fourth place | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | Squad | Play-off | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | Italy |
Round of 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | Squad | 1st | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 |  United States |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | Squad | 2nd | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 |  France |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | Squad | Play-off | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | South Korea Japan |
Round of 16 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | Squad | Play-off | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Germany |
Did not qualify | 4th | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 |  South Africa |
4th | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Brazil |
Quarter-finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Squad | 1st | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Russia |
Third place | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 6 | Squad | 1st | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 |  Qatar |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Squad | 1st | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Third place | 51 | 21 | 10 | 20 | 69 | 74 | — | 14/22 | 141 | 83 | 27 | 31 | 302 | 147 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium's World Cup record | |
|---|---|
| First Match | United States 3–0 Belgium (13 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay) |
| Biggest Win | Belgium 3–0 El Salvador (3 June 1970; Mexico City, Mexico) Belgium 3–0 Panama (18 June 2018; Sochi, Russia) Belgium 5–2 Tunisia (23 June 2018; Moscow, Russia) |
| Biggest Defeat | United States 3–0 Belgium (13 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay)  Germany 5–2 Belgium (27 May 1934; Florence, Italy) Italy 4–1 Belgium (20 June 1954; Lugano, Switzerland) Soviet Union 4–1 Belgium (6 June 1970; Mexico City, Mexico) Poland 3–0 Belgium (28 June 1982; Barcelona, Spain) |
| Best Result | Third place at the 2018 |
| Worst Result | Group stage in 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970, 1998 and 2022 |
Matches
| List of FIFA World Cup matches | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score | Result | Record |
| 1930 | Round 1 | United States | 0–3 | Loss | 0–0–1 |
| Round 1 | Paraguay | 0–1 | Loss | 0–0–2 | |
| 1934 | Round 1 | Germany | 2–5 | Loss | 0–0–3 |
| 1938 | Round 1 | France | 1–3 | Loss | 0–0–4 |
| 1954 | Group stage | England | 4–4 (a.e.t.) | Draw | 0–1–4 |
| Group stage | Italy | 1–4 | Loss | 0–1–5 | |
| 1970 | Group stage | El Salvador | 3–0 | Win | 1–1–5 |
| Group stage | Soviet Union | 1–4 | Loss | 1–1–6 | |
| Group stage | Mexico | 0–1 | Loss | 1–1–7 | |
| 1982 | Group stage 1 | Argentina | 1–0 | Win | 2–1–7 |
| Group stage 1 | El Salvador | 1–0 | Win | 3–1–7 | |
| Group stage 1 | Hungary | 1–1 | Draw | 3–2–7 | |
| Group stage 2 | Poland | 0–3 | Loss | 3–2–8 | |
| Group stage 2 | Soviet Union | 0–1 | Loss | 3–2–9 | |
| 1986 | Group stage | Mexico | 1–2 | Loss | 3–2–10 |
| Group stage | Iraq | 2–1 | Win | 4–2–10 | |
| Group stage | Paraguay | 2–2 | Draw | 4–3–10 | |
| Round of 16 | Soviet Union | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Win | 5–3–10 | |
| Quarter-final | Spain | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Draw | 5–4–10 | |
| Semi-final | Argentina | 0–2 | Loss | 5–4–11 | |
| Third-place match | France | 2–4 | Loss | 5–4–12 | |
| 1990 | Group stage | South Korea | 2–0 | Win | 6–4–12 |
| Group stage | Uruguay | 3–1 | Win | 7–4–12 | |
| Group stage | Spain | 1–2 | Loss | 7–4–13 | |
| Round of 16 | England | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Loss | 7–4–14 | |
| 1994 | Group stage | Morocco | 1–0 | Win | 8–4–14 |
| Group stage | Netherlands | 1–0 | Win | 9–4–14 | |
| Group stage | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 | Loss | 9–4–15 | |
| Round of 16 | Germany | 2–3 | Loss | 9–4–16 | |
| 1998 | Group stage | Netherlands | 0–0 | Draw | 9–5–16 |
| Group stage | Mexico | 2–2 | Draw | 9–6–16 | |
| Group stage | South Korea | 1–1 | Draw | 9–7–16 | |
| 2002 | Group stage | Japan | 2–2 | Draw | 9–8–16 |
| Group stage | Tunisia | 1–1 | Draw | 9–9–16 | |
| Group stage | Russia | 3–2 | Win | 10–9–16 | |
| Round of 16 | Brazil | 0–2 | Loss | 10–9–17 | |
| 2014 | Group stage | Algeria | 2–1 | Win | 11–9–17 |
| Group stage | Russia | 1–0 | Win | 12–9–17 | |
| Group stage | South Korea | 1–0 | Win | 13–9–17 | |
| Round of 16 | United States | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Win | 14–9–17 | |
| Quarter-final | Argentina | 0–1 | Loss | 14–9–18 | |
| 2018 | Group stage | Panama | 3–0 | Win | 15–9–18 |
| Group stage | Tunisia | 5–2 | Win | 16–9–18 | |
| Group stage | England | 1–0 | Win | 17–9–18 | |
| Round of 16 | Japan | 3–2 | Win | 18–9–18 | |
| Quarter-final | Brazil | 2–1 | Win | 19–9–18 | |
| Semi-final | France | 0–1 | Loss | 19–9–19 | |
| Third-place match | England | 2–0 | Win | 20–9–19 | |
| 2022 | Group stage | Canada | 1–0 | Win | 21–9–19 |
| Group stage | Morocco | 0–2 | Loss | 21–9–20 | |
| Group stage | Croatia | 0–0 | Draw | 21–10–20 | |
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enzo Scifo | 17 | 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 |
| 2 | Jan Ceulemans | 16 | 1982, 1986 and 1990 |
| 3 | Franky van der Elst | 14 | 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 |
| 4 | Eric Gerets | 12 | 1982, 1986 and 1990 |
| Thibaut Courtois | 12 | 2014,2018 and 2022 | |
| 6 | Franky Vercauteren | 11 | 1982 and 1986 |
| Stéphane Demol | 11 | 1986 and 1990 | |
| Georges Grün | 11 | 1986, 1990 and 1994 | |
| Eden Hazard | 11 | 2014,2018 and 2022 | |
| Dries Mertens | 11 | 2014,2018 and 2022 | |
| Jan Vertonghen | 11 | 2014 and 2018 | |
List of FIFA World Cup goalscorers
Team
Individual
- Golden Glove 1986: Jean-Marie Pfaff
- Golden Glove 1994: Michel Preud'homme
- Golden Glove 2018: Thibaut Courtois
- Best Young Player Award 1986: Enzo Scifo
- Silver Ball 2018: Eden Hazard
- "Head-to-Head: Belgium v Russia". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2009.
- This is one of several goals for which the statistical details are disputed. The goalscorers and timings used here are those of FIFA, the official record. Some other sources, such as RSSSF, state a different scorer, timing, or both. See "World Cup 1930 finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- Guldemont 1978, p. ?.
- Bilic, Pierre (3 Oct 2013). "de Rode Duivels in het collectieve geheugen". Sport/Voetbalmagazine. Roeselare: Roularta Media Group NV.
- "Classic football - matches". FIFA. 26 Aug 2012. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013.
- Edworthy 1997, pp. 138–139.
- Witzig 2006, p. 167.
- "Scifo: I wouldn't change a thing". FIFA News. 14 Sep 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009.
- Witzig 2006, p. 289.
- "Scolari praises team effort". BBC Sport. 17 Jun 2002.
- "Belgium honoured with the FIFA Fair Play Award". FIFA News. 29 Jun 2002. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
- "Belgium at the World Cups - Goalscorers at World Cups". thefifaworldcups.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
Bibliography
- Edworthy, Niall (1997). England: The Official F.A. History. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 1-85227-699-1.
- Guldemont, Henry (1978). Toute L'Histoire du Football Belge (in French). Brussels: Editions Arts & Voyages. ISBN 2801600121.
- Lisi, Clemente Angelo (2011). A History of the World Cup: 1930–2010. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-08-108-7753-5.
- Witzig, Richard (2006). The Global Art of Soccer. Harahan: CusiBoy Publishing. ISBN 0-9776688-0-0.