Sole French speaker among Red Flames, Walloon football in crisis today

Once again, Namur's Constance Brackman is the only Francophone player among the twenty‑four Red Flames selected by Elisabet Gunnarsdottir for the World Cup playoff against Poland on Friday evening, highlighting the persistent imbalance between Walloon and Flemish women's football.

Constance Brackman, from Namur, again finds herself isolated as the sole Francophone in the Red Flames squad. She has been recalled by coach Elisabet Gunnarsdottir to face Poland on Friday. The expected return of Lisa Lichtfus, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture, does not guarantee a reversal of the trend. Brackman said she feels “alone” within the team.

Lack of Francophone representation among the youth

An analysis of the rosters reveals that the Francophone deficit spreads to the development teams. At U23 level, only two players, Hubaut and Watson, are Francophone. At U19 level, it is Ernst, Godfroid, Delille and Tchidio Bomie who speak the language of Wallonia. These young talents nevertheless remain marginalised in the national selections.

The Amateur Football Federation (FFA) counts 21,000 Francophone affiliates against 30,000 on the Flemish side, an imbalance that is reflected in the composition of the Red Flames. According to Xavier Donnay, the World Cup has boosted girls' registrations by 4.8 % in the south of the country, a rate identical to that observed in the north. This increase shows that women's football is generating growing interest, but does not solve the representation problem in women's sports. These figures confirm that, despite the excitement generated by the World Cup, the linguistic imbalance remains a major challenge for the FFA.

Red Flames chase World Cup ticket as Poland appear in arena Friday

Statements from Xavier Donnay

“Ghent, Bruges, Leuven and even Mechelen and Westerlo at the lower level have many youth teams, not just their first team,” says Xavier Donnay, manager of Women's Elite and grassroots football at the FFA. He points out that, in Walloon clubs, some only have a first team without a youth structure, which hinders the sustainable development of Francophone talent.

Nathalie Dumont, head of sport in the Mons‑Borinage‑Centre region, recalls that Standard long dominated Walloon women's football, but only La Louvière has recently invested in a youth policy. This project, which initially focuses on training, remains an exception in a landscape where Francophone professional clubs struggle to create sustainable women's teams. According to Dumont, strengthening youth structures in the Centre and the Walloon provinces is essential to create a pool of Francophone talent.

Mixed‑gender play and atypical pathways

“Mixed‑gender play is regulation‑wise possible up to U18 in Belgium,” clarifies Xavier Donnay, who encourages players to stay long in mixed teams if they feel comfortable. Examples such as Caigny or Teulings, who spent many years playing alongside boys, illustrate the tactical and physical benefits of this approach. This mixed‑gender environment can offer young girls a more comprehensive training and prepare more Francophones for higher levels.

Sports: Only one Walloon in the Red Flames against Poland

Solutions exist to reverse the trend, the federation believes, by widening the base of the pyramid in the south and providing an environment conducive to perseverance. As long as Walloon clubs do not develop solid youth structures, the presence of Francophones among the Red Flames will remain limited. The upcoming clash against Poland will serve as a test to measure the impact of the proposed measures.