BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgium on Wednesday moved a friendly international against Portugal away from Brussels after the militant attacks on the city.

Belgium, the world's top ranked team, had been due to play Portugal in Brussels next Tuesday.

But a day after the attacks on Brussels airport and the city metro in which 31 people died, the Belgian federation said the match had been called off for "security reasons." Portugal's federation later announced that the two countries had agreed to play the match the same day in the Portuguese city of Leiria instead.

"I wanted to play in Brussels, at home, because I am against fear," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.

"I wanted to play here to show them (the terrorists) that despite the terrible events, which shook the country, life goes on for the majority of people."

The Islamic State assaults on Paris and Brussels over the past four months have increased the security spotlight on the 24-nation European Championships due to start in Paris on June 10.