Belgium will trade tackles with Canada at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium at 19:00GMT.
With a squad described by most fanatics as the golden generation, the Belgians may give Qatar 2022 an extra try as majority of the star-studded Red Devils crawl over to the wrong side of age. The team have pushed at all front, always trying to be better than their previous performance. They managed a third-place finish in 2018 after their quarter-final exit in 2014.
Roberto Martinez’s side may not be in the right shape with injuries and fatigue staring at him but his side are one of the big ones aiming for the jackpot. With Canada back to the World Cup after 36 years, Belgium will relish the opportunity to restore their form.
FORM GUIDE (LAST FIVE MATCHES)
Belgium have won three out of five matches and lost their only game in that period last Friday against Egypt in their final pre-World Cup encounter. Canada have recorded two losses and two wins with a draw in their last five matches.
BELGIUM
18 November 2022 Egypt 2–1 Belgium International Friendly
25 September 2022 Netherlands 1–0 Belgium UEFA Nations League
22 September 2022 Belgium 2–1 Wales UEFA Nations League
14 June 2022 Poland 0–1 Belgium UEFA Nations League
11 June 2022 Wales 1–1 Belgium UEFA Nations League
CANADA
November 17 Canada 2–1 Japan Friendly
November 11 Bahrain 2–2 Canada Friendly
September 27 Canada 0–2 Uruguay Friendly
September 23 Canada 2–0 Qatar Friendly
June 13 Honduras 2–1 Canada CONCACAF Nations League
HEAD TO HEAD
Wednesday will be the two sides’ first World Cup meeting having clashed in an international friendly 32 years ago.
09 Jun 1989 Canada 0-2 Belgium International Friendly
TEAM NEWS
BELGIUM
Lukaku and Meunier are two big doubts for Belgium as the duo race against time to be fit. Yannick Carrasco may handle the left wing-back position in the absence of Thorgan Hazard
PREDICTED LINE-UP
(3-4-2-1): Courtois; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dendoncker; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Batshuayi, E Hazard.
CANADA
Canada may be without Bayern star, Alphonso Davies in what happens to be the biggest blow for the Canadians. He has however resumed full training and could possibly start.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
(3-4-3): Borjan; Miller, Johnston, Vitoria; Laryea, Hutchinson, Eustaquio, Davies; Buchanan, David, Larin