Belgium

Belgium, the Red Devils, punched above their weight for a decade thanks to a celebrated 'golden generation' featuring Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois. Combining technical sophistication with physical power, the small nation rose to No. 1 in the FIFA rankings and became a perennial dark horse. Belgian football blends Flemish and Walloon traditions into one of Europe's most respected sides.

Belgium's best World Cup runs came in 1986, when they finished fourth, and 2018, when their golden generation claimed third place in Russia — the country's finest result. The 2018 side produced an unforgettable comeback from 2-0 down to beat Japan and a famous victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champions France. Belgium also reached the second round in 1990 and 1994, but the golden generation's failure to reach a final, capped by a group-stage exit in 2022, remains a lasting what-might-have-been.