India, July 11 -- The residence of the Belgian Ambassador to India, Didier Vanderhasselt, turned into a packed football arena on Saturday night.

The embassy hosted a FIFA World Cup quarter-final screening that brought Belgian and Spanish diplomats, expats, and football fans together under one roof.

With plates of hot Belgian fries and cold beer going around, the room was buzzing from the start.

The crowd was on a roller-coaster, with the mood swinging every time the ball changed hands. Despite the tension in the room, the vibe stayed friendly.

Before the match began, Ambassador Vanderhasselt kept it diplomatic when asked which individual player he was rooting for. "I am in diplomacy, and diplomacy is about teamwork," Vanderhasselt sai...