PEOPLE in Lille have been urged to welcome Belgian fans into their homes after their Euro 2016 match against Wales so they can "party well into the night".
The two sides face off in the quarter-finals at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Friday evening, with a semi-final against Portugal awaiting the winners.
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Lille is a little over 10 miles from the Belgian border, with thousands of fans expected to head to the city in northern France for the match.
Theodore Taymans is behind the #AdopteUnBelge campaign and wrote an open letter to people in Lille urging them to let fans stay at their homes.
The letter said: "Suffice to say, the match encourages us to make the journey. Watching the game as close to where the action is taking place. Showing the whole world that while the Irish and Icelandic fans are obviously amazing, that the people of Gaul, the supporters of the Red Devils are the bravest.
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"We could obviously do the return trip. But you know us, we'll want to have a party well into the night. We thought about a hotel, but we lacked foresight and there are no vacancies in the centre of the city. Also, it would be much more fun to experience it with you.
"So, we asked ourselves: what if you adopted us for a night? That you offered us your hospitality? I swear, it will be a laugh.
"So say yes and we can sing together: Waar is da feestje? Hier is da feestje! (Where is the party? Here is the party!)"
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French sports minister Patrick Kanner, originally from Lille, backed the campaign earlier this week on Twitter.
He said: "Friends from Lille, I'm calling on your hospitality. On Friday, welcome our Belgian neighbours who will be arriving in large numbers in Lille. #WALBEL #AdopteUnBelge"
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