Back to the European Football Championship in 2021, which was played a year later than planned due to corona. It is the middle of summer and the Red Devils have been on the streets for weeks in advance. Supermarkets can’t grind the devilish accessories, every other store has something that refers to football. Do you remember the tricolore tompouce?

The contrast with today could hardly be greater. There are hardly any large screens in the city and the supermarkets hardly do anything around the World Cup. The usual gadgets of a well-known beer brand, but just a little less. And if something goes wrong with a poster.

Stefanie, who works in a clothing store on De Keyserlei, nods. “It’s not alive. The fuss around the role of Qatar will play a role, but it is mainly the time of the year that ensures that few people lose sleep over the World Cup.

At the entrance of the store there is a rack with football shirts for children. All from the Red Devils. And those who want to go crazy can also buy a tricolor hat or scarf. “Maybe something will be sold on the day the Belgians play. But I don’t think it’s going to blow up. That was different during the European Football Championship. When we were going to make everything with the Red Devils, we had weeks in advance easily over the counter,” says Stefanie.

Southern temperament on Sint-Jansplein

“It’s winter” is the most heard comment to explain why the World Cup in Qatar is barely alive. The enthusiasm is not particularly great in many cafes either. Most broadcast the matches of the Belgians live, but no more than that.

One of the exceptions is café Brazuca on the corner of Sint-Jansplein and Van De Wervestraat. At every European Championship and World Cup, the café is a stopping place where Belgians, Portuguese and Brazilians crowd in front of the television.

“And it won’t be any different now. The weather really doesn’t stop our customers from coming to watch football in large numbers at the café. With some people you feel that it is gradually starting to live and once the World Cup is underway that will only increase. Both Brazilians and Portuguese love football,” says manageress Simone.

If all goes well, there will even be a screen on Sint-Jansplein. “I have submitted a request to place a screen on the corner of the square for the matches of Brazil and Portugal. With a barbecue, of course,” continues the manageress.

Success is already assured at café Brazuca. “Many of our customers sit on the terrace all year round. The winter months are no exception. I will also be organizing a market on the square in December. With food, that goes without saying. Even then the weather will not throw a spanner in the works.”

“Let’s make it a party”

Glenn is sweeping his cafe a few blocks away. Café Seefhoek in the Diepestraat has become a stopping place for local residents since it was taken over. “Yes,” says Glenn cheerfully. “We will broadcast the matches of the Red Devils and try to make it a fun evening or afternoon every time.”

From behind a table, the owner takes out a large canvas that he has ordered from the brewery. “We hang it out during the World Cup so that everyone knows that football can be watched here. I am not a big football fan myself and even doubted whether I would broadcast the matches. But I think I will be doing my customers a favor.”

It’s a story told in many cafes. His customers are welcome to come and have a look. Also in the Moroccan cafes in Borgerhout and the Seefhoek. A few say they do not broadcast football. In most of them, the matches of the Belgians and the Moroccans are noted with a dot. “We are not going to make much fuss around the World Cup. Anyone who comes to watch is welcome, but don’t expect wild scenes,” says the manager of a café in the Korte Zavelstraat.

Tony, who has been running café De Klamper in Offerandestraat for a number of years, is not planning any major festivities either. Although there is a huge screen against the wall. “I’ve had that for a while and it wasn’t bought specifically for football. But yes, I’m going to broadcast the matches. Many people from the neighborhood come here to drink their coffee or beer. That certainly includes football fans and it can be quite fun to watch an event together.

Back on the street, it turns out again that winter is not a World Cup season. A few fruitless attempts to discover in a sporting goods store and some enthusiasm to find nothing out. “No, we don’t have cookies from the Red Devils. There is also no one who comes to ask about anything related to football,” says the manager of a food store. “Better next time for sure.”