Belgium v Canada: Key moments as Batshuayi scores game's only goal
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90+6' The referee checks his watch and blows his whistle to signal the end of this match.
90+1' Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) gets inside the box and tries to beat Milan Borjan with a measured shot into the bottom right corner, but the keeper is equal to the effort and makes a fine save.
86' Cyle Larin (Canada) connects with a cross from the side, but produces a header which goes miles wide of the left post.
85' Kevin De Bruyne sends the free kick into the box. Leander Dendoncker (Belgium) outjumps the defence to win the header, but completely mistimes the ball and sends it high over the bar.
83' Alistair Johnston (Canada) has to be very careful for the rest of the match after receiving a yellow card from the referee for a bad tackle on an opponent.
81' Alphonso Davies (Canada) receives a yellow card from the referee for a foul that he committed a little earlier.
81' John Herdman has decided to introduce fresh legs, with Liam Millar (Canada) replacing Tajon Buchanan.
81' Substitution. Stephen Eustaquio will be replaced by Jonathan Osorio (Canada).
80' Cyle Larin (Canada) rises above the defenders and places a towering header towards the left post, but Thibaut Courtois is prepared and dives to thwart him.
78' Roberto Martinez has decided to make a change. Lois Openda (Belgium) replaces Michy Batshuayi.
74' The referee stops play so that a substitution can be made and Richie Laryea trots off the pitch and is replaced by Sam Adekugbe (Canada).
67' Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) received a pass inside the box and sent a dangerous shot in on goal, but keep the champagne on ice as one of the defenders stepped in and blocked the effort. It's hard to say whether the keeper would have stopped it.
62' The substitution has been made. Leandro Trossard (Belgium) has replaced Eden Hazard.
58' John Herdman decides to make a substitution. Atiba Hutchinson will be replaced by Ismael Kone (Canada).
58' It's time for a substitution. Cyle Larin (Canada) comes on in place of Junior Hoilett.
56' Janny Sikazwe shows a yellow card to Amadou Onana (Belgium) for his blatant foul.
53' This yellow card was deserved. The tackle by Thomas Meunier (Belgium) was quite harsh and Janny Sikazwe didn't hesitate to show him a yellow card.
48' Stephen Eustaquio looks up and plays a clever lofted ball onto the head of Jonathan David (Canada), who sends the ball narrowly wide of the left post from near the penalty spot.
46' Half-time substitution. Roberto Martinez decided to make a change. Yannick Carrasco is replaced by Thomas Meunier (Belgium).
46' Half-time substitution. Youri Tielemans is replaced by Amadou Onana (Belgium).
46' The players are back out on the pitch following the half-time break and the second half is about to start.
45+6' Janny Sikazwe blows his whistle to signal the end of the first-half action.
45+2' Tajon Buchanan (Canada) receives a well-played pass inside the penalty area and shoots. He sends the ball into orbit.
44' 1 - 0 GOAL! Superb work from Toby Alderweireld, who plays a vital role in the build-up. He squares it to Michy Batshuayi (Belgium), who beats Milan Borjan with a brilliant shot into the right side of the net. 1:0.
40' Referee Janny Sikazwe signals NO PENALTY for Canada after a VAR review!
39' Wait! The referee makes the VAR signal and he's going to review that incident in the box from earlier. This could be a penalty for Canada! Let's see what he decides.
38' Richie Laryea (Canada) goes down in the box after a challenge from the defender. Possibly unsighted, the referee just waves play on.
30' Alistair Johnston (Canada) gets inside the box and tries to beat Thibaut Courtois with a measured shot into the right side of the goal, but the keeper is equal to the effort and makes a fine save.
23' Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) misses a good chance to score. An inch-perfect cross into the box finds Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) who rises for a header, but sends the ball well over the bar.
16' Junior Hoilett (Canada) easily beats an opponent inside the box and goes for goal, but his effort flies just wide of the left post.
11' Jonathan David (Canada) strikes the rebound, but it goes well over the bar.
11' Alphonso Davies (Canada) has a great chance to score from the penalty. He shoots to the bottom left corner, but Thibaut Courtois leaps out to thwart his attempt.
9' Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) goes into the book.
9' Here comes the VAR decision: PENALTY to Canada!
8' Play continues despite the shouts by some Canada players for a penalty. Wait! Referee Janny Sikazwe interrupts the game right now and he will review that decision using VAR! Let's see what happens.
8' Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) appears to handle the ball in the box, but the ref turns down the penalty appeals and waves play on!
1' The first half of this match is about to start.
Match preview
After finishing third in the 2018 World Cup, Belgium must improve on that Egypt display or they risk going three matches without a win for the first time since March 2014 after an underwhelming UEFA Nations League campaign (W3, D1, L2).
Rekindling the form that saw them stroll through their World Cup qualifying group unbeaten (W6, D2) would be the ideal way to start their World Cup group stage campaign as they prepare for only their second ever meeting with Canada after a 2-0 friendly victory back in 1989. A repeat result would be welcomed by Belgium boss Roberto Martínez and it would also wrap up a hat-trick of World Cup group-opening victories for the Red Devils.
While Belgium are seasoned tournament campaigners with expectations of reaching the latter stages, Canada are returning to international football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1986 as huge underdogs. Topping the CONCACAF final qualification group ahead of Mexico and USA (W8, D4, L2) shows John Herdman’s side deserve to be taken seriously and they’ll be looking to put down a marker ahead of their country co-hosting the tournament in 2026.
Canada produced their best performances during that final stage of qualifying at home, only beating lowly Honduras and El Salvador on the road (D3, L2), hinting that they may struggle in unfamiliar surroundings. Finetuning their preparations by drawing 2-2 with Bahrain and beating Japan 2-1 not far from here should therefore boost morale following four consecutive defeats on foreign soil.
Players to watch: With Romelu Lukaku out through injury, Belgium could turn to Loïs Openda, who’s scored two international goals in 2022 after the 75th minute. Another man used to striking late is Canada’s Jonathan David, with three of his last four international goals arriving after the 70th minute.
Hot stat: Five of Canada’s last six games produced exactly two first-half goals (HT: W2, D2, L2).
World Cup trivia: Belgium are one of six teams to have gone through a World Cup unbeaten without winning the tournament, doing so in 1998 when they drew all three group games.
