In a royal display of support, Belgium's King Philippe visited the national football team, the Red Devils, on Thursday evening, providing a morale boost just ahead of their critical World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain. The Belgian monarch's visit marks another instance of European royalty rallying behind their teams at this year's tournament.

During his time at the team's hotel, King Philippe not only dined with the players but also participated in a photo session, resulting in a memorable team selfie that later graced the Belgian Red Devils' official X account. In addition to his physical presence, the king has previously shown his support virtually, having engaged in a video call with coach Rudi Garcia, captain Youri Tielemans, and key striker Romelu Lukaku earlier in the tournament.

The king's pep talk was heartfelt and succinct. “A few days ago, my daughter and I watched you at 2 a.m. It was magnificent," he shared with the team. His message to the players was clear and direct: “You must win. And I am confident that you will. But it will depend on you.” Reflecting the high spirits and close ties between the monarch and the team, soccer federation head Pascale Van Damme presented King Philippe with a Belgium shirt signed by all the players.

King Philippe is not the only royal to have shown such fervent support during the tournament. He joins the ranks of Spain’s King Felipe VI, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, all of whom have been spotted cheering for their national teams. In contrast, political leaders attending the games have faced criticism, as seen with Portugal’s Prime Minister and Scotland’s First Minister, both of whom have been scrutinized for their visits to the World Cup.

As the anticipation builds, Belgium is set to face Spain at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to play against France. The royal visit is hoped to be a good omen for the Red Devils, as they seek to secure their place in the next round of this prestigious international competition.