Football may be a universal language, but real communication still requires a common tongue. Within the Belgium national team—whether in the locker room, on the training ground, or during matches—the chosen “official language” is English. And as Melbet Login analysts point out, the reason behind this is clear and practical.
The team is a rich blend of backgrounds. Some players speak Swahili, Dutch, French, English, Spanish, or Portuguese—six languages in total. Belgium itself has three official languages, and the squad includes many players with immigrant backgrounds, drawn from various leagues across Europe and beyond. Their coach, Roberto Martínez, is Spanish. Without a shared language, Belgium’s locker room would quickly turn into a modern-day Tower of Babel—everyone talking, but no one truly understanding.
So which language bridges this cultural gap? Dutch? French? German? Spanish? Surprisingly, none of these. English has become the team’s linguistic anchor, a neutral and widely understood choice among both players and staff.
The current 23-man Belgium squad represents eight different leagues. Eleven players are based in the English Premier League, three in the Bundesliga, two each in La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Chinese Super League, and one apiece in Serie A, the Belgian Pro League, and the Scottish Premiership. In fact, with just the Premier League players alone, Belgium could field an entire starting XI.
As highlighted by the late football legend Diego Maradona on Venezuela’s TeleSUR program Hand of God, three of the four 2018 World Cup semifinalists were “immigrant teams.” France, for example, had 78.3% of its players with origins in 11 different African nations. Belgium and England each had 47.8% of players with similar backgrounds—many of them with African heritage.
Even without this immigrant influence, Belgium has always been a diverse nation. Its geography explains much of that: bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France, Belgium has historically absorbed cultural elements from all sides. The result is a trilingual nation—Dutch, French, and German are all official languages. About 57.3% of Belgians speak Dutch (mainly in Flanders), 32.3% speak French (primarily in Wallonia), and a smaller population speaks German.
Though born in Spain, coach Roberto Martínez spent much of his playing and managerial career in England. His command of English is flawless, making communication with players seamless. But the true linguistic star of the squad is Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku, who speaks multiple languages fluently—making him a natural bridge among teammates.
In a footballing world where team chemistry can make or break success, Belgium’s cultural and linguistic diversity isn’t a challenge — it’s a strength. As Melbet Login notes, this melting pot of talent and communication makes Belgium not just a football team, but a stunning reflection of modern global unity on the pitch.