(Subedited by Riley Finch)
The second game of Group F kicks-off at 7pm tonight as the 2018 World Cup bronze medallists, Belgium, take on a patriotic Canadian side.
Win, loss or draw it will be a monuments moment for Canada qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 36 years.
This undoubtedly presents an enormous challenge as the potentially rusty international side face FIFA’s second-ranked team and third-placed team in the last tournament (2018), Belgium.
Having to face some of footballs biggest talents, John Herdman’s squad is looking forward to putting up a fight in their opening match.
One of Canada’s key players’, Alphonso Davies’ availability for todays game are still in doubt. He could be a huge miss.
The 22-year-old was injured due to a hamstring problem while playing for the Bavarians at the start of November.
Davies was also not in sight in his country’s pre-World Cup friendlies.
Possessing some of Europe’s greatest stars and being led of course by the dazzling Kevin De Bruyne makes Belgium favourites to take an early command of Group F.
However, football fans from across the globe are still determining whether Roberto Martinez’s ageing squad will continue its successful run from 2018.
The Belgium’s do seem in need of some fresh talent, for this competion they are using more or less the same squad that played during the World Cup 2018.
The squad has been deemed as entering its golden age, for some players this will be their last World Cup.
Thomas Meunier might have missed Borrusia Dortmund’s final five matches before joining the Belgian squad with a fractured cheekbone; however, the 31-year-old has been seen in training and is likely to be on the bench at least.
Belgium talisman Romelu Lukaku has also been in the spotlight after being reported that he cannot join Belgium’s first two games due to a pair of hamstring injuries.
He has played less than half an hour for Inter Milan since August.
The game kicks off today at 19.00 UK time at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Qatar.
Belgium line-ups: Jan Vertonghen, Thibaut Courtois, Leander Dendoncker, Toby Alderweireld, Timothy Castagne, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Michy Batshuayi.
Canada line-ups: Milan Borjan, Richie Laryea, Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria, Alistair Johnston, Alphonso Davies, Atiba Hutchinson, Stephen Eustaquio, Tajon Buchanan, Junior Hoilett, Jonathan David.
