Live on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 18:30 (GMT). Presented by Gary Lineker. Punditry from Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany and Alex Scott. Commentary by Steve Wilson and Jermaine Jenas.
Belgium
I think this is their last chance to do something at a World Cup for quite a while. They’ve got a couple of decent young players in Doku and De Ketelaere but 11 of their players are the ‘wrong’ side of 30 and a lot of them are in the starting XI. I want them to do well as I think this is De Bruyne’s best shot at a World Cup but they’ll most likely face Germany or Spain in the last 16 and I think that’ll be a step too far. De Bruyne might make the 2026 World Cup if he looks after himself. I’m not sure how Martinez has been given another opportunity to take them to a World Cup.
Belgium’s form this year hasn’t been great but once again it’s hard to judge the Nation’s League games when they’re crammed into a 2-week period after a gruelling season. Their recent losses to Netherlands and Egypt may be more revealing however.
Canada
This is only Canada’s 2nd ever World Cup, their only other appearance was at Mexico in 86, where they lost every game and didn’t score a goal. This is probably the best generation of players that they’ve had. The standouts being Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich and Jonathan David of Lille. They went through most of qualification without the former due to injury.
They qualified top of Concacaf which was a shock to many but it was well deserved, they led the way from start to finish, they only started to tail off towards the end. The 2-1 victory over Japan last week will give them some confidence going into this.
Belgium
I think this is their last chance to do something at a World Cup for quite a while. They’ve got a couple of decent young players in Doku and De Ketelaere but 11 of their players are the ‘wrong’ side of 30 and a lot of them are in the starting XI. I want them to do well as I think this is De Bruyne’s best shot at a World Cup but they’ll most likely face Germany or Spain in the last 16 and I think that’ll be a step too far. De Bruyne might make the 2026 World Cup if he looks after himself. I’m not sure how Martinez has been given another opportunity to take them to a World Cup.
Belgium’s form this year hasn’t been great but once again it’s hard to judge the Nation’s League games when they’re crammed into a 2-week period after a gruelling season. Their recent losses to Netherlands and Egypt may be more revealing however.
Canada
This is only Canada’s 2nd ever World Cup, their only other appearance was at Mexico in 86, where they lost every game and didn’t score a goal. This is probably the best generation of players that they’ve had. The standouts being Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich and Jonathan David of Lille. They went through most of qualification without the former due to injury.
They qualified top of Concacaf which was a shock to many but it was well deserved, they led the way from start to finish, they only started to tail off towards the end. The 2-1 victory over Japan last week will give them some confidence going into this.