Belgian football has taken a long time to develop. With an association formed in 1895 and the second-oldest league outside Great Britain, it was natural for the Belgians to be a driving force behind the formation of FIFA and one of only four European sides to go to Uruguay for the first World Cup in 1930. But the strictly amateur nature of the domestic game severely hindered progress. Amateurism was discarded in 1972 and the national side immediately improved. From 1972 to 1984, Belgium reached the last eight of four successive European Championships, reaching the final in 1980 when they lost to West Germany. The class of 1980 represented Belgium for almost a decade and contained many of their most celebrated players, including goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, full-back Eric Gerets and striker Jan Ceulemans. Their finest hour came at the 1986 World Cup finals, where they reached the semi-finals. Belgium made history as co-hosts of the 2000 European Championship but have missed out on major events since reaching the second round of the 2002 World Cup. (Dutch: Het Belgische voetbalelftal} Belgique de football); (German: Die Belgische Fußballnationalmannschaft); represents Belgium in association football and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association, the governing body for football in Belgium. Belgium's home stadium is King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels; their manager is vacant at present. They are nicknamed the Red Devils (Dutch: Rode Duivels, Dutch pronunciation: [ˈroː.də ˈdœy̯.vəɫs]); (French: Diables Rouges); (German: Rote Teufel).

Belgium (ⁱ/ˈbɛldʒəm/ BEL-jəm), officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi), and it has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers, mostly Flemish (about 60%), and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons (about 40%), plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.

National football team may refer to:

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A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.

Such teams could be selected to play in a match against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a hypothetical team (such as a Dream Team or Team of the Century) and never play an actual match.

There are several varieties of football, with the most notable being Association football, Gridiron football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby league and rugby union. The number of players selected for each team within these varieties and their associated codes can vary substantially. In some, use of the word "team" is sometimes limited to those who play on the field in a match and does not always include other players who may take part as replacements or emergency players. "Football squad" may be used to be inclusive of these support and reserve players.

The term football club is the most commonly used for a sports club which is an organised or incorporated body with a president, committee and a set of rules responsible for ensuring the continued playing existence of one or more teams which are selected for regular competition play (and which may participate in several different divisions or leagues). The oldest football clubs date back to the early 19th century. The word team and club are sometimes used interchangeably by supporters, although typically refers to the team within the club playing in the highest division or competition.

Marc Robert Wilmots (born 22 February 1969 in Dongelberg, Belgium) is a Belgian former footballer and current manager of Belgium.

In his club career, that started in 1987, Wilmots played for Sint-Truiden, Mechelen, Standard Liège, Schalke 04, and Bordeaux. At Schalke, he helped them to the 1997 UEFA Cup Final. His goal in the first leg was cancelled out by Internazionale in the second leg, but Schalke went on to win the game on penalties, with Wilmots scoring the decisive kick. He retired in 2003, after his second stint with Schalke.

For Belgium, Wilmots scored 28 goals in 70 caps, his first coming in May 1990. He played in four World Cups, going scoreless in 1994, but getting two goals in 1998 and adding three in 2002. Wilmots is Belgium's leading goal scorer in World Cup history. Wilmots also played in Euro 2000, when Belgium co-hosted the tournament.

Wilmots became a football manager in summer 2004 for Sint-Truidense, but was sacked in February 2005. On 28 September 2009, he announced his return to the Belgium national football team. From 1 October 2009 on, he served as assistant for Dick Advocaat and later for Georges Leekens. On 15 May 2012, Following the exit of Georges Leekens, Wilmots assumed the Belgium reins on an interim basis, with Eric Gerets ruled himself out of the running to land the post on a permanent deal.