Belgium v Turkey: the Red Devils need a response at Sclessin

On Friday 2 October, Belgium host Turkey at Sclessin on matchday three of the 2026-27 Nations League. Belgium v Turkey comes in the middle of a new kind of international break: under the revised FIFA calendar, the September and October windows have been merged into one running from 21 September to 6 October, giving a single window of four matches instead of two windows of two.

In charge since replacing Rudi Garcia this summer, Mark Van Bommel has already seen both extremes: a 2-0 win in Italy, then a 1-0 defeat to France on Monday at the King Baudouin Stadium, settled by a Michael Olise goal on 88 minutes. Four days later, against a Turkey side in the middle of a crisis, another slip would seriously hurt Belgium's hopes of a top-two finish in the group.

Belgium v Turkey at Sclessin: memories of the 7-0

After Brussels, the Red Devils head to Liège. Sclessin, Standard's home ground and a familiar venue to anyone who follows the Jupiler Pro League, hosts the national team for the second time in less than a year.

The memories there are good ones: on 18 November 2025, Belgium beat Liechtenstein 7-0 at the ground to seal their place at the 2026 World Cup. Kick-off is at 8.45pm on Friday.

Turkey in crisis since the World Cup

Turkey arrive in the worst possible shape. At the 2026 World Cup they were out after their second defeat, without a goal despite 62 shots against Australia (2-0) and Paraguay (1-0), before salvaging some pride against the United States in their final game. Vincenzo Montella's side then made a poor start to the Nations League, with two home defeats: 1-0 to France, then 4-1 to Italy in Bursa.

Criticised by part of the Turkish support after that heavy loss, Montella has refused to resign. After two matchdays, Turkey sit bottom without a point, behind France (6 points) and Belgium and Italy (3 points each).

Eleven Belgium v Turkey meetings and a perfectly level record

On Friday the two nations meet for the 12th time. The record from the first eleven games could not be closer: three Belgian wins, three Turkish wins and five draws.

The Red Devils won both qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup (2-1 in 1996, then 3-1 in Turkey in 1997) and a 2010 World Cup qualifier, 2-0 in Brussels in October 2009. Turkey won a 2004 friendly 3-2, then a Euro 2012 qualifier 3-2 in September 2010. The last meeting was in June 2011: a 1-1 draw in Belgium, fifteen years ago.

Euro 2000: a dark night at the King Baudouin Stadium

One of those eleven games weighs more than the others. On 19 June 2000, Belgium, co-hosts of the Euros with the Netherlands, played their final group game against Turkey at the King Baudouin Stadium, with qualification on the line.

Right at the end of the first half, Filip De Wilde hesitated under a high ball and Hakan Şükür opened the scoring. The Turkish striker doubled the lead on 70 minutes, and the Belgian goalkeeper was sent off on 84. A 2-0 defeat.

That night, Belgium became the first host nation to go out of a European Championship in the first round. Twenty-six years on, the memory has not faded.

What Belgium v Turkey means for the race to the quarter-finals

The top two in each League A group go through to the quarter-finals in March 2027, followed by the Finals in June. Three points behind France, Belgium cannot afford to drop points against the group's bottom side, especially with a trip to the Stade de France on Monday.

Can Van Bommel make up for the defeat to Les Bleus with a win, as he did on his debut in Italy? Friday night at Sclessin will tell. At GoldenVegas Sport, the 25% BetXtra boost applies to your in-play bets on Belgium v Turkey and on every Nations League fixture.