Belgium national under-19 football team
National youth football team.
The Belgium national under-19 football team, controlled by the Belgian Football Association, competes in the European Under-19 Football Championship. Despite Belgium's recent success in senior football, their under-19 team has struggled to make a significant impact in international competitions.
In the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Belgium's record is notably poor compared to other European nations. They have only qualified for the final tournament four times since its restructuring in 2002. In these appearances, the team has never progressed beyond the group stage, with their best performances coming in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2011. Their overall record in the tournament stands at 1 win, 4 draws, and 7 losses in 12 matches, scoring 12 goals while conceding 27.
Belgium's performance in the FIFA U-20 World Cup (which the U-19 team can qualify for) is equally underwhelming. They have made only one appearance in the tournament's history, reaching the Round of 16 in 1997. In that tournament, they managed just one win, one draw, and two losses, scoring 4 goals but conceding 14.
This poor record stands in stark contrast to the achievements of other European nations like France, Spain, and Germany, who have consistently performed well at the U-19 level. It also highlights a potential gap in Belgium's youth development system, especially considering the recent success of their senior national team.