The Best Places To Play Soccer In Brussels

| © Mikael Kristenson/StockSnap
Nana Van De Poel

With Belgium sitting firmly in the heart of soccer-loving Europe, the world’s most played sport is a big deal in this small country. Amateur teams can be found in just about every town and city, but one of the most rewarding places to play soccer remains Brussels. Here the gorgeous parks offer colorful fall scenery for games with friends and international teams that welcome expats and locals alike, no matter what their skill level.

Games with friends

Cinquantenaire Park

Museum, Park

Belgium, Brussels, triumphal arch of the Cinquantenaire Palace
© Westend61 / Getty Images
The 30-hectare Cinquantenaire Park looks so regal that waging a match here can feel a bit like playing soccer on the King’s lawn. This makes complete sense knowing that Builder King Leopold II actually had this park built in celebration of the 50-year existence of the Belgian nation and its monarchy. All magnificent museums, tall trees and green patches that seem to stretch on endlessly, the Cinquantenaire is soccer heaven if you manage to keep those pesky frisbee fans out of your imaginary field of play.

Les Quatre Caisses

The urban soccer spot known as ‘les quatre caisses’ got a thorough makeover last year. The concrete terrain between the Rue de la Verdure and the Rue de Soignies – a stone’s throw from where Manneken Pis stands attracting flocks of tourists all day – is favored by local groups of friends for daily matches. Thanks to an engaged neighborhood association the old school spot boasts futuristic graffiti frescoes and even an angry gingerbread man on its walls.
In between Rue de Soignies and Rue de la Verdure

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Bois de la Cambre

Park

An oasis of green in the metropolis, the Bois de la Cambre park has been designed to look like a natural landscape, forests and all. With its central lake and adorable rowboats it’s the place of choice for many a sunbather and picnicking group on summer days. During the temperate seasons the park is a splendid choice for a soccer or rugby match though, especially when you throw in fall’s gorgeous color palette. For a historic boost to your game, play on the patch of grass where a plaque has been placed that reads ‘La Pelouse des Anglais’. Meaning ‘The Englishmen’s Lawn’, this is the spot where a group of English soldiers played a round of cricket on the Eve of the Battle of Waterloo.

On a team

R.S.C. Anderlecht

Stadium

Purple and white in action
Public domain/Flickr
Kids and teens that tackle the game with ambition will want to try their shot at conquering a spot on an Anderlecht team. A great nurturer of young talent, Brussels’ most famous club has recently cultivated and groomed promising talents such as Youri Tielemans and Leander Dendoncker and is a regular contender in the Champions League. Any youngster eyeing a career in European soccer would be happy to don the purple and white.

British United

One of the biggest amateur clubs in all of Belgium, British United boasts a pleasant mix of expats and locals spread out over eight jovial teams. Fumbling novices and experienced ball wizards are all welcome to try out a training session whenever they see fit. The Men’s and Veteran’s teams train at the International School in Watermael-Boistfort and the Ladies – whose matches take them all over Flanders – at the British School in Tervuren.
International School of Brussels, Kattenberg 19, Waterfall-Boitsfort, Belgium
British School of Brussels, Pater Dupierreuxlaan 1, Tervuren, Belgium

Play indoors

Keeping in mind that Belgium’s grey and cloudy days are part of the package, you may want to join one of the capital’s many indoor soccer teams instead. While the sport generally requires more technical agility due to the closer quarters the players are confined to, most amateur Brussels teams just approach it as a fun hobby and a sporty way to meet friends. One of these laidback équipes that gladly welcomes each and every Brusselaar is the fairly new Brussels United Indoor FC. Uccle Action Fémina Futsal is a great team for just ladies and both regularly participate in annual mixed tournaments outside of the regular competition.

Indoor soccer
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article