It’s 33 years since Belgium won the only previous match between these two teams. The Red Devils, have included Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard in their squad despite injury concerns. Canada has a fitness doubt over star man Alphonso Davies, of Bayern Munich, injured in a Bundesliga clash with Hertha Berlin.

Both of Belgium’s defeats in their last ten games came at the hands of the Netherlands, but they showed what they are capable of when putting six past Poland in Brussels, during their Nations League campaign. Belgium was one of the last two nations to finish their warm-up games, with a match in Kuwait against Egypt, just two days before the tournament begins, while Canada took on Bahrain and Japan in two warm-up matches. The size of the task facing Les Rouges is summed up by the huge gap of 39 places that separates number two-ranked Belgium from a Canadian side making their first World Cup appearance in 36 years.