Football in Belgium

Football, a sport which has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century, is that country's most popular sport. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport. The first match of the national team was played on May 1, 1904 (3–3 against France).

Traditionally, RSC Anderlecht, Club Brugge and Standard de Liege are the three big teams, all of them playing and/or winning 1 or more European Cup Final(s). Except for Standard de Liege and Charleroi, most professional clubs have Flemish backgrounds.

National style

Both the national football team and the top Belgium division have a reputation for physical play. This came as a result of a lack of technically skilled foreign players allowed to play in Belgium due to legal restrictions. This changed after the Bosman ruling which forced the liberalization of the football player market in Europe. In response, Belgian clubs began to buy unknown players from Eastern Europe, South America and Africa. This had two contradictory consequences. On the one hand, the national team was weakened by the reduced opportunity for native Belgium players to gain a spot on domestic teams. On the other hand, the Jupiler League reinforced its status as an entry league for players who then move on to some of the greatest European clubs.