Recent discussions have emerged about whether dual nationals are increasingly turning down call-ups to the Belgian national football team, the Red Devils. A fact check reveals that while there have been isolated cases, there is no widespread trend of dual nationals declining to represent Belgium.
According to data from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), the number of dual nationals called up to the senior team has remained stable over the past five years. In the 2024-2025 season, approximately 15% of players called up had dual nationality, a figure consistent with previous years.
Notable exceptions include players like Jeremy Doku (Belgium/Ghana) and Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium/France), who have both committed to Belgium. However, some players, such as Zinho Vanheusden (Belgium/DR Congo), have chosen to represent other nations at youth levels but remain eligible for Belgium.
The RBFA has not reported any significant increase in refusals. The perception of a trend may stem from high-profile cases where players chose other nations, but these remain exceptions rather than the rule.
