Ah, Belgium. Known for its delectable fries, irresistible chocolate, and the soccer prowess of Kevin De Bruyne. Yet beneath the surface of this seemingly unified country lies a complex web of linguistic and political divisions: Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and a smaller German-speaking community. These divisions extend into a political landscape so fragmented that following the June 2024 elections, it took a staggering 234 days to form a federal government. The delay stemmed from no single camp securing a majority, necessitating protracted negotiations across ideological and linguistic lines.

The rise of Flemish nationalism, spearheaded by parties like the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and the far-right Vlaams Belang, has only deepened these divides. N-VA, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever since 2004, campaigns for transforming Belgium into a confederal state, aiming to grant Flanders greater autonomy, if not outright independence.

In this context, the 2026 World Cup should have been a golden opportunity for De Wever to foster a sense of national unity. However, unlike his counterparts in the Netherlands, Germany, and France—who have all shown enthusiastic support for their teams—De Wever has remained conspicuously silent about the Red Devils, Belgium's national soccer team. This lack of enthusiasm isn't merely a personal disinterest in the sport, as a Belgian official noted, "The prime minister is not a soccer fan, so he doesn't seek to project that image publicly. To do otherwise would not be authentic."

His disinterest was previously highlighted in Flemish media and his comments on a podcast, where he described the intense fandom in soccer stadiums as leaving him feeling "ice cold." More than personal preference, De Wever's reticence likely stems from his political stance that emphasizes Flemish identity over Belgian unity. This was evident in past incidents, such as during Euro 2016 when the N-VA had to deny allegations that it instructed officials to downplay support for the Red Devils to avoid projecting a too-Belgian image.

De Wever's few public statements regarding this year's World Cup have been criticisms rather than cheers, focusing on the tournament's official Belgian song, which included no Dutch lyrics, an omission he found "not elegant."

While countries like New Zealand have used sports to forge a cohesive national identity, integrating Māori culture into their teams, Belgium remains starkly divided, at least from the top echelons of its government. The prime minister's stance reflects deeper national fissures that a mere soccer tournament, no matter how globally watched, cannot alone heal. As Belgium faces New Zealand on the field today, back home, the game of national unity is one where the score remains unsettled.