Belgium women's national football team

Belgium played its first match against France on May 30, 1976 at Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims, France. The game ended in a 2–1 victory. A year after this debut, the Belgian team played against Switzerland and France, tying both matches, 2–2 and 1–1 respectively. They played the same teams again the next year, this time beating both with 1–0 and 2–0. Another victory followed against Yugoslavia with 1–0. The team's first defeat however came at the hands of England: 3–0, which was followed by a 2–0 loss against France and a 2–2 tie against the Netherlands. In the following years, Belgium kept playing mostly against European teams.

Belgium participated in qualifications for the first time for the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football. They were sorted in Group 4 with the Netherlands, Denmark and West Germany. The campaign started off well with a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands, but continued with a 1–0 loss against Denmark and a 1–1 draw against West Germany. Despite having a neutral goal difference at this point, the Belgian team ended up last in the group after a 5–0 defeat against the Netherlands and draws against their other two opponents, 2–2 against Denmark and 1–1 against West Germany.

Their second attempt at qualifying was for the 1987 European Competition, where they were joined in Group 3 by France, the Netherlands again and Sweden. Their games against France were one win and one loss, both 3–1. Their matches against their two other opponents however were all defeats: 3–1 and 3–0 against The Netherlands, and 5–0 and 2–1 against Sweden. This resulted in Belgium again ending last in the group.

In attempting to qualify for the 1989 tournament they did better. They played in Group 4 against four other teams: Czechoslovakia, France, Spain and Bulgaria. Among the eight games, they won two, drew four and lost two, with 7 goals for and 4 against. This earned them third place in the group of five, which did not suffice for qualification.

The Belgian team suffered a series of poor results from 1990 to 2011. They never won even half of their matches in any of the qualification campaigns during this period, except for one. This notable exception was the 2003 Women's World Cup qualifiers, where they won five games and suffered only one loss. Scotland however had achieved the same result and with better goal difference, leaving Belgium second in their group. This was nevertheless Belgium's best performance at the World Cup qualifiers until 2019 when they went out in the play-offs. It was followed by their worst: they lost all eight games in the next iteration (2007). At the UEFA Women's Euro qualifications, their best performances during this period were at the 1995 edition and the 2009 edition, both times losing 'only' half of their matches and drawing one.

An era of victories began when Ives Serneels replaced Anne Noë as manager in 2011. Serneels led the team to improved qualification campaigns for Euro 2013 and 2015 World Cup, both times ending third in the group (just short of qualifying). Between both campaigns, the Belgian female football team adopted the nickname "Belgian Red Flames".[2] Following the improvements, the RBFA invested in more growth in 2015, targeting qualification for Euro 2017.[3] After a successful start in their qualifications group, the team was invited to play at the 2016 Algarve Cup in Portugal, one of the most prestigious women's international football events.

Belgium finished second in their Euro 2017 qualifications group (after England), which was enough to earn them their first ever qualification for a major tournament. At Euro 2017 Belgium secured a 2–0 upset win over Norway during group stage. However, after losing 1–0 to Denmark and 2–1 to the Netherlands they finished third in their group and did not advance to the knockout round.

Belgium performed well in UEFA World Cup Qualifying for the 2019 World Cup and secured second place in Group 6 behind Italy. As a result, they qualified for the UEFA Play-offs as they were one of the top 4 ranked second place teams. Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark were the other teams in the play-off. Belgium faced Switzerland in their play-off semi-final, after two legs the aggregate score was 3–3, but Switzerland advanced on away goals. The Netherlands went on to defeat Switzerland in the play-off final to claim the final UEFA qualifying spot at the 2019 World Cup.[4]

The Belgium women's national team plays their home matches on the Den Dreef.

As of 6 November 2021

Role	Name
Manager	Ives Serneels
Assistant manager	Audrey Demoustier
	Kris Van Der Haege
Goalkeeping coach	Sven Cnudde
Fitness coach	Cédric Lehance
Physiotherapist	Fabienne Van De Steene
	Jan Van der Jeugt

• Ives Serneels (2011–)

The following players were named in the squad for the 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against  Albania and  Kosovo on 7 and 12 April respectively.[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 12 April 2022 after the match against  Kosovo.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Nicky Evrard	(1995-05-26) 26 May 1995	48	0	Gent
12	1GK	Diede Lemey	(1996-10-07) 7 October 1996	6	0	Sassuolo
21	1GK	Lisa Lichtfus	(1999-12-29) 29 December 1999	0	0	Dijon
2	2DF	Davina Philtjens	(1989-02-26) 26 February 1989	105	10	Sassuolo
4	2DF	Amber TysiakINJ	(2000-01-26) 26 January 2000	13	3	OH Leuven
18	2DF	Laura De Neve	(1994-10-09) 9 October 1994	52	2	Anderlecht
19	2DF	Sari Kees	(2001-02-17) 17 February 2001	4	0	OH Leuven
22	2DF	Laura Deloose	(1993-06-19) 19 June 1993	64	4	Anderlecht
3	3MF	Chloe Vande Velde	(1997-06-06) 6 June 1997	24	2	Gent
4	3MF	Charlotte Tison	(1998-04-21) 21 April 1998	11	0	Anderlecht
8	3MF	Lenie Onzia	(1989-05-30) 30 May 1989	61	4	OH Leuven
10	3MF	Justine Vanhaevermaet	(1992-04-29) 29 April 1992	32	4	Reading
16	3MF	Marie Minnaert	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999	23	3	Club YLA
20	3MF	Julie Biesmans	(1994-05-04) 4 May 1994	89	3	PSV
23	3MF	Féli Delacauw	(2002-04-04) 4 April 2002	5	0	Gent
3	4FW	Ella Van KerkhovenINJ	(1993-11-20) 20 November 1993	15	7	Anderlecht
5	4FW	Sarah Wijnants	(1999-10-13) 13 October 1999	23	2	Anderlecht
6	4FW	Tine De Caigny	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997	72	37	TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
7	4FW	Jarne Teulings	(2002-01-11) 11 January 2002	9	2	Anderlecht
9	4FW	Tessa Wullaert	(1993-03-19) 19 March 1993	106	65	Anderlecht
11	4FW	Janice Cayman	(1988-10-12) 12 October 1988	124	47	Lyon
13	4FW	Hannah Eurlings	(2003-01-01) 1 January 2003	15	4	OH Leuven
14	4FW	Jassina Blom	(1994-09-03) 3 September 1994	19	7	UDG Tenerife
15	4FW	Jill Janssens	(2003-10-03) 3 October 2003	7	0	OH Leuven
Notes INJ = Withdrew due to injury

The following players have been called up in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Justien OdeursRET	(1997-05-13) 13 May 1997	44	0	Anderlecht	v.  Poland, 30 November 2021
GK	Femke Bastiaen	(2001-04-11) 11 April 2001	0	0	PSV	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
DF	Silke Vanwynsberghe	(1997-04-25) 25 April 1997	7	0	Gent	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
DF	Shari Van Belle	(1999-12-22) 22 December 1999	12	0	Gent	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
DF	Jody Vangheluwe	(1997-07-15) 15 July 1997	8	0	Club YLA	v.  Poland, 30 November 2021
DF	Auke Swevers	(2004-08-26) 26 August 2004	1	0	OH Leuven	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
DF	Fran Meersman	(2002-08-15) 15 August 2002	1	0	Gent	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
DF	Lyndsey Van Belle	(2003-08-31) 31 August 2003	1	0	Gent	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
DF	Constance Brackman	(2001-10-20) 20 October 2001	2	0	Standard Liège	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
DF	Isabelle Iliano	(1997-03-02) 2 March 1997	9	0	Club YLA	v.  Albania, 7 April 2022
MF	Zenia Mertens	(2001-02-27) 27 February 2001	3	0	OH Leuven	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
MF	Sien Vandersanden	(2002-05-03) 3 May 2002	0	0	Genk	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
MF	Aster Janssens	(2001-03-12) 12 March 2001	1	0	Standard Liège	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
MF	Estée Cattoor	(2004-05-01) 1 May 2004	1	0	OH Leuven	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
MF	Fleur Pauwels	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003	1	0	Genk	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
MF	Luna Vanzeir	(2003-01-07) 7 January 2003	1	0	OH Leuven	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
MF	Marie Detruyer	(2004-01-13) 13 January 2004	1	0	OH Leuven	v.  Luxembourg, 12 June 2021
FW	Davinia Vanmechelen	(1999-08-30) 30 August 1999	44	7	Standard Liège	v.  Poland, 30 November 2021
FW	Lisa Petry	(2001-02-12) 12 February 2001	2	0	Genk	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
FW	Yana Daniëls	(1992-05-08) 8 May 1992	46	7	Liverpool	v.  Russia, 22 February 2022
Notes RET = Retired from the national team

As of 12 April 2022

Most capped players # Player Year(s) Caps 1 Janice Cayman 2007– 124 2 Aline Zeler 2005–2019 111 3 Tessa Wullaert 2011– 106 4 Davina Philtjens 2008– 105 5 Heleen Jaques 2007–2020 97 6 Maud Coutereels 2004– 90 7 Julie Biesmans 2011– 89 8 Femke Maes 1996–2009 85 9 Tine De Caigny 2014– 72 10 Laura Deloose 2015– 64 Janice Cayman

Top goalscorers # Player Year(s) Goals Caps 1 Tessa Wullaert 2011– 65 106 2 Janice Cayman 2007– 47 124 3 Tine De Caigny 2014– 37 72 4 Aline Zeler 2009–2019 29 111 5 Femke Maes 1996–2009 25 85 6 Kristel Verelst 1998–2009 18 46 7 Myriam Vanslembrouck 1992–1996 16 21 8 Christine Saelens 1993–2003 13 41 9 Cecile Carnol 1996–2003 12 37 10 Davina Philtjens 2008– 10 105 Tessa Wullaert

as of 25 November 2021:

• Belgium's biggest win is 19–0, achieved against Armenia on 25 November 2021.
• Belgium's highest FIFA rank has been 17 (in December 2019).

Belgium was invited to play at the 2016 Algarve Cup in Portugal and ended fifth out of eight teams. The teams were divided into two groups; after the group stage, placement matches were played among the equally ranked teams from both groups. Belgium ended third in Group A, and won the placement match against Russia (third place in Group B) with 5–0.[7]

Belgium has been invited to the Cyprus Cup four times, as of 2019. Their first appearance was in 2015. They were sorted into group C that year, with Mexico, Czech Republic and South Africa, and ended last in the group. They also lost the placement match (after penalties) against South Korea, resulting in the last place of all 12 teams. In 2017 Belgium finished third in Group A with Switzerland, North Korea and Italy, and eventually reached seventh place out of 12 after winning the placement match against Austria.[8]

Belgium was also invited to play the tournament in 2018, in a group with Austria, Czech Republic and Spain. They ended second in the group behind eventual winner Spain, and fifth overall (out of 12) after winning the placement match against South Africa. Belgium returned to the Cyprus Cup in 2019. They were in Group C with Austria, Slovakia and Nigeria.[9] Belgium finished in third place after defeating Austria on penalties in the third place match.

Belgium were crowned Pinatar Cup champions in 2022. Belgium beat Russia in the final after taking the game to penalties.[10]