Here's why 'The Red Devils' is Belgium's nickname

Belgium's national team earned its enduring nickname 'The Red Devils' after a landmark match on 29 April 1906, when Belgium defeated the Netherlands 5-0. Pierre Walckiers, then editor-in-chief of La Vie Sportive, wrote about the match and the team's pace and intensity in red kits, coining the phrase that would become iconic. The nickname drew inspiration from Camille Jenatzy, the Belgian engineer and racer who became the first to break the 100 km/h barrier in 1899 and who was nicknamed the 'Red Devil' for his red beard. Over the years the team wore different colors, and the moniker briefly shifted to 'White Devils' in the 1970s and to 'Black Devils' when away kits were black in 2000.

Today, the 'Red Devils' is a globally recognized nickname used across Belgium's three official languages—Dutch, French and German. Despite changes in uniform, the red kit eventually returned as the defining symbol, helping to anchor the moniker in fans' and media's consciousness. The article notes that the nickname's persistence reflects the country's identity and the team's reputation for speed and intensity. Overall, 'Red Devils' remains a quintessential label in international football coverage.