Fans across Belgium erupted in joy after the national football team secured an impressive 4-1 victory against the USA in the World Cup, a match that was marred by the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the suspension of striker Falorin Balogun.
While Prime Minister Bart De Wever has not publicly commented on the team’s success, his cat Maximus provided a humorous, indirect nod to the victory. The feline was seen lounging with a toy resembling the US president, accompanied by a speech bubble in Dutch that read, “I slept really well last night. And you?”
Managed by De Wever’s team, Maximus’s Instagram account often dips into political commentary, offering witty, albeit subtle, observations about current events and other politicians.
Despite the late 2 AM kickoff on Tuesday, throngs of Belgian supporters donned their national colors of red, yellow, and black, gathering in various locations to cheer for their team. “The Belgian national team is our national pride, so we have to support them, even at night,” stated 23-year-old supporter Jens Boden during a viewing in Kalmthout, near the Dutch border. Reports from Kalmthout indicated that crowds voiced their displeasure by booing images of the American team and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had lifted Balogun’s suspension following Trump’s lobbying efforts. Meanwhile, in Brussels, fans were seen setting fire to an American flag.
Philippe Albert, a former defender for Belgium and Newcastle United, characterized the Red Devils’ win as “a real slap in the face for Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino”
“They tried to destabilise a little country, but Belgium has shown that it has a big heart,”
Albert, now a football commentator, conveyed to the Francophone daily Le Soir. “Despite a far-from-optimal preparation the Devils all responded.”
Following their decisive win, the national team’s social media post declaring “the king, the national football team, some beers” quickly gained traction online. Clips of the team celebrating on the pitch, which included mock imitations of Trump’s signature dance moves, also attracted widespread attention. After Romelu Lukaku netted the final goal, players celebrated by mimicking Trump’s stiff arm movements to the tune of YMCA. Midfielder Axel Witsel noted that this celebration was a collective idea.
Social media was flooded with memes celebrating Belgium’s triumph, including altered images of a glum-looking Trump with his face painted in the national colors and depictions of the iconic Manneken Pis statue urinating into a green-hued Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, a nod to a recent renovation mishap under the US president’s administration.
Belgium’s victory came just before the NATO summit in Ankara, where both De Wever and Trump are expected to appear. However, the Belgian leader may find the atmosphere less favorable, as Belgium has historically been among the lowest defense spenders within the 32-member alliance. Although Belgium has committed to meeting NATO’s defense spending target of 5% of GDP, recent reports suggest that by 2029, the country will only reach a spending level of 1.93%.
While discussions about defense spending remain contentious, football serves as a unifying element in Belgium, a nation of 11.9 million inhabitants with three official languages and multiple governing bodies.
Two decades ago, a former Belgian prime minister remarked that the country was “May fair-play and the best team prevail tonight: come on Belgium!” sharing little beyond “the king, the national football team, some beers.”
Belgian media disclosed that King Philippe will travel to Los Angeles to witness the quarter-final match against Spain on Friday. Ahead of last night’s game, the monarchy’s social media account shared a photo of King Philippe apparently conversing with national coach Rudi Garcia, accompanied by the message.
“May fair-play and the best team prevail tonight: come on Belgium!”
