Belgium have appeared in the finals tournament of the FIFA World Cup on 15 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 the Belgian referee John Langenus.

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.

Belgium's best finish in the World Cup is third, at the 2018 tournament in Russia. Belgium previously finished fourth in the 1986 edition in Mexico.

FIFA World Cup record 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 qualified for six successive World Cups from 1982 to 2002, and reached the second phase in five of these tournaments. Their fourth-place finish in the 1986 was the best placing in their World Cup history until 2018, when they finished third after beating England 2–0 in Saint Petersburg.

1930 FIFA World Cup

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. However, in the second and last group match against Italy, Belgium was defeated 1–4 and was unable to proceed to the finals.

1970 FIFA World Cup

1982 FIFA World Cup In the first game of the 1982 World Cup, held at Camp Nou, Belgium celebrated one of their most famous victories: a 1–0 win over the defending champions, Argentina, with a goal by Erwin Vandenbergh. After reaching to the second group stage, Belgium lost 3–0 to Poland after a hat-trick from Zbigniew Boniek. Their last match against the Soviet Union ended in a 1–0 loss.

Group 3

Group A

1986 FIFA World Cup Four years later they achieved their best World Cup run to that point when they placed fourth at Mexico 1986. Qualifying as one best third-placed teams, in the knockout phase Belgium surprisingly won against Soviet Union after extra time (4–3), despite an opposing player, Igor Belanov, scoring a hat-trick. Brazil and Austria are the only other teams to have achieved this in the World Cup (in 1938 and 1954 respectively). Belgium also beat Spain on penalties after a 1–1 draw, but they lost 2–0 to the eventual champions, Argentina, in the semi-finals, with both goals scored by Diego Maradona. In the match for third place Belgium lost to France 4–2 after extra time. Their captain, Jan Ceulemans, and their goalkeeper, Jean-Marie Pfaff, were the first Belgian players to be selected in the All-Star Team of a World Cup. Enzo Scifo was selected as the best young player of the tournament.

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. 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. Scifo was elected as second best player of the 1990 World Cup after Lothar Matthäus.

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. After the match, Röthlisberger was sent home. Michel Preud'homme was elected as best goalkeeper of the tournament.

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.

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. 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. With the World Cup final still to go, the team did win the tournament's fair-play award. 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.

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.

2018 FIFA World Cup

2022 FIFA World Cup

2026 FIFA World Cup

Group stage

Knockout stage

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Overview Tournaments Champions   Runners-up   Third place  

FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearHost(s)RoundPositionSquad1930Group stage11th200204SquadQualified as invitees1934Round of 1615th100125Squad2nd2011681938Round of 1613th100113Squad2nd2110431950Did not enterDid not enter1954Group stage12th201158Squad1st43101161958Did not qualify2nd4211161119623rd40043101966Play-off53021251970Group stage10th310245Squad1st64111481974Did not qualify2nd642012019782nd6303761982Second group stage10th521235Squad1st85121291986Fourth place4th72231215SquadPlay-off8422951990Round of 1611th420264Squad1st84401551994Round of 1611th420244Squad2nd107121651998Group stage19th303033SquadPlay-off1071223132002Round of 1614th412167SquadPlay-off107212762006Did not qualify4th10334161120104th1031613202014Quarter-finals6th540163Squad1st108201842018Third place3rd7601166Squad1st109104362022Group stage23rd311112Squad1st86202562026Quarter-finals 6th6321147Squad1st85302972030To be determinedTo be determined2034TotalThird place15/23572412218381—15/23149883031331154 Champions   Runners-up   Third place  

Belgium's World Cup recordFirst Match 3–0 Belgium (13 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay)Biggest Win 5–1 (26 June 2026; Vancouver, Canada)Biggest Defeat 3–0 (13 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay) Germany 5–2 (27 May 1934; Florence, Italy) 4–1 (20 June 1954; Lugano, Switzerland) 4–1 (6 June 1970; Mexico City, Mexico) 3–0 (28 June 1982; Barcelona, Spain)Best ResultThird place in 2018Worst ResultGroup stage in 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970, 1998 and 2022

Matches List of FIFA World Cup matchesYearRoundOpponentScoreResultRecord1930Round 10–3Loss0–0–1Round 10–1Loss0–0–21934Round 12–5Loss0–0–31938Round 11–3Loss0–0–41954Group stage4–4 Draw0–1–4Group stage1–4Loss0–1–51970Group stage3–0Win1–1–5Group stage1–4Loss1–1–6Group stage0–1Loss1–1–71982Group stage 11–0Win2–1–7Group stage 11–0Win3–1–7Group stage 11–1Draw3–2–7Group stage 20–3Loss3–2–8Group stage 20–1Loss3–2–91986Group stage1–2Loss3–2–10Group stage2–1Win4–2–10Group stage2–2Draw4–3–10Round of 164–3 Win5–3–10Quarter-final1–1 Draw5–4–10Semi-final0–2Loss5–4–11Match for third place2–4 (a.e.t.)Loss5–4–121990Group stage2–0Win6–4–12Group stage3–1Win7–4–12Group stage1–2Loss7–4–13Round of 160–1 Loss7–4–141994Group stage1–0Win8–4–14Group stage1–0Win9–4–14Group stage0–1Loss9–4–15Round of 162–3Loss9–4–161998Group stage0–0Draw9–5–16Group stage2–2Draw9–6–16Group stage1–1Draw9–7–162002Group stage2–2Draw9–8–16Group stage1–1Draw9–9–16Group stage3–2Win10–9–16Round of 160–2Loss10–9–172014Group stage2–1Win11–9–17Group stage1–0Win12–9–17Group stage1–0Win13–9–17Round of 162–1 Win14–9–17Quarter-final0–1Loss14–9–182018Group stage3–0Win15–9–18Group stage5–2Win16–9–18Group stage1–0Win17–9–18Round of 163–2Win18–9–18Quarter-final2–1Win19–9–18Semi-final0–1Loss19–9–19Match for third place2–0Win20–9–192022Group stage1–0Win21–9–19Group stage0–2Loss21–9–20Group stage0–0Draw21–10–202026Group stage1–1Draw21–11–20Group stage0–0Draw21–12–20Group stage5–1Win22–12–20Round of 323–2 Win23–12–20Round of 164–1Win24–12–20Quarter-final1–2Loss 24–12–21

Player records Most appearances

RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups1Thibaut Courtois212014, 2018, 2022 and 20262Kevin De Bruyne182014, 2018, 2022 and 2026Romelu Lukaku182014, 2018, 2022 and 20264Enzo Scifo171986, 1990, 1994 and 19985Jan Ceulemans161982, 1986 and 19906Axel Witsel152014, 2018, 2022 and 20267Franky van der Elst141986, 1990, 1994 and 1998Eden Hazard142014, 2018 and 2022Jan Vertonghen142014, 2018 and 202210Toby Alderweireld132014, 2018 and 2022Dries Mertens132014, 2018 and 2022

Goalscorers

After Belgium failed to score at the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup, Bernard Voorhoof made history on 27 May 1934 when he scored his country's first-ever goal at the tournament, netting a brace in their round of 16 match against Germany in Florence.

Player Goals 1930 1934 1938 1954 1970 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2014 2018 2022 2026 Romelu Lukaku 8 1 4 3 Marc Wilmots 5 2 3 Jan Ceulemans 4 3 1 Léopold Anoul 3 3 Nico Claesen 3 3 Enzo Scifo 3 2 1 Eden Hazard 3 3 Kevin De Bruyne 3 1 1 1 Charles De Ketelaere 3 3 Bernard Voorhoof 2 2 Raoul Lambert 2 2 Wilfried Van Moer 2 2 Erwin Vandenbergh 2 1 1 Marc Degryse 2 1 1 Philippe Albert 2 2 Dries Mertens 2 1 1 Jan Vertonghen 2 1 1 Marouane Fellaini 2 1 1 Michy Batshuayi 2 1 1 Leandro Trossard 2 2 Youri Tielemans 2 2 Hendrik Isemborghs 1 1 Henri Coppens 1 1 Ludo Coeck 1 1 Alexandre Czerniatynski 1 1 Franky Vercauteren 1 1 Daniel Veyt 1 1 Stéphane Demol 1 1 Michel De Wolf 1 1 Lei Clijsters 1 1 Patrick Vervoort 1 1 Georges Grün 1 1 Luc Nilis 1 1 Peter Van der Heyden 1 1 Johan Walem 1 1 Wesley Sonck 1 1 Divock Origi 1 1 Adnan Januzaj 1 1 Nacer Chadli 1 1 Thomas Meunier 1 1 Alexis Saelemaekers 1 1 Hans Vanaken 1 1 Own goals 3 1 1 1 Total 83 0 2 1 5 4 3 12 6 4 3 6 6 16 1 14

Awards Team FIFA Fair Play Trophy 2002

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 FIFA All Star Team 1994: Michel Preud'homme