Red Flames play decisive matches against Hungary

The Red Flames face two crucial matches. Play-off matches against Hungary will decide whether the national football women stay in the A-league. On Friday 23 February, the Flames travel to Hungary, then will play the return game in Leuven on Tuesday 27 February. That day, national coach Ives Serneels will be honoured for his 150th cap as coach of the Red Flames. ​

"Ives helped put the Red Flames on the map, with our quarterfinal at the 2022 European Championships as an absolute highlight. We owe a lot to him, which is why we want to celebrate him. And the best way to do that is to secure retention in the A-League. We are counting on the support of our supporters to set the stadium on fire and shout us to victory."

– Janice Cayman, record international Red Flames

Double match against Hungary

After a successful Nations League campaign – with home wins against top nations Netherlands and England – the Red Flames are playing for retention in the A-league. Direct qualification for the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland can only be enforced in that A-league, so the double against Hungary – 41st in the world rankings – will be crucial. ​

Should the Flames secure retention in the A-league, they will play their qualifying games for the 2025 European Championship against three other countries from that A-league. The first two countries in the pool qualify directly for the European Championship. The third and fourth from the group play play-off matches against opponents from the B- or C-league. ​

If the Flames drop to the B-league – and finish among the first three in their group – they must survive two preliminary rounds to go to the European Championship. They would first play a game against another team from the B-league, before playing their final qualifying game against an opponent from the A-, B- or C-league. ​

150^th match Ives Serneels ​ 

The away match in Hungary will be an anniversary match for Ives Serneels, who achieves his 150^th cap. That milestone will be celebrated on 27 February, before the return match in Leuven. Players and fans will honour the national coach that day. ​

Serneels started his career as national coach on 24 May 2011 with a 1-0 win against North Korea. On 23 February – thirteen years after his debut – he has reached 150 games in charge. He has been the driving force behind the professionalisation of the Red Flames, qualifying for the European Championship twice in a row. And his hunger is not yet satisfied. ​

"The 150-caps mark as national coach obviously makes me extremely happy and proud. But that milestone would not have been possible without a fantastic player group and staff, and without the support of the management of the RBFA. But I will be equally happy and proud when we bring that play-off with Hungary to a successful conclusion and ensure retention in the A-group. That would also immediately bring us one step closer to the 2025 European Championship."

– ​ Ives Serneels, national coach 

Tickets for the home match are available via the RBFA app or at tickets.rbfa.be. ​ ​ ​