During the 2014 World Cup, Belgium's soccer team, dubbed the Red Devils, served as a rare unifying force for a country deeply split by linguistic and political differences. For one night, the focus shifted from the ongoing parliamentary struggles and the prominent Flemish separatist movement to collective national pride. Citizens from both Flemish-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia put aside their disagreements to cheer for their team, a phenomenon noted by both fans and political figures.
The team's coach, Marc Wilmots, a former senator who is bilingual and married across the linguistic divide, emphasized the non-political nature of the sport, even as his team became a symbol of national togetherness. Players like Eden Hazard (Francophone) and Jan Vertonghen (Flemish-speaking) represented the mixed face of the national squad. This temporary unity was evident in the shared enthusiasm at public screenings and on social media, where hashtags like #tousensemble (all together) trended in both French and Dutch.
Political leaders, including then-Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, embraced the team's success, highlighting its ability to bridge divides. The national team's games drew record television viewing figures, with fans expressing a shared desire for victory despite the underlying political tensions that resurfaced once the matches concluded. This brief period of national solidarity underscored how soccer could temporarily transcend the country's deep-seated linguistic and political fragmentation, even in a nation where forming a government had previously taken a record 18 months.
