This is the first encounter between Belgium and Canada at the Fifa World Cup. Their only previous meeting was a June 1989 friendly in Ottawa – Belgium won 2-0.
No European team has qualified for as many Fifa World Cup tournaments as Belgium without ever winning it. This is their 14th appearance.
Belgium were the top scoring side at the last Fifa World Cup, in 2018. They found the net 16 times on their way to a third-place finish.
Since losing their final group game in 1994 (0-1 v Saudi Arabia), Belgium are unbeaten in all 12 of their group stage games at the Fifa World Cup. They’ve won each of their last seven group matches in the competition, with only Brazil ever winning eight consecutive World Cup group games (twice, from 1986-1994 and 2002-2010).
Canada’s appearance at the 2022 Fifa World Cup marks 36 years since their last participation, in 1986. It’s the second longest gap between appearances in the finals tournament among teams taking part in this year’s showpiece, after Wales’ 64 years.
Canada lost all three matches in their only previous Fifa World Cup appearance in 1986, failing to score a goal. In fact, they are one of four nations to play at least three matches at the Fifa World Cup and never score (Trinidad and Tobago, Zaire, China PR).
Canada qualified for the Fifa World Cup in first place in CONCACAF, scoring the most goals in the final round of qualifying (23) and conceding the fewest (7). After opening with a home draw against Honduras, the Canadians won their last six home matches by an aggregate score of 16-2.
Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard have collectively assisted 45 per cent of Belgium’s goals at major international tournaments since the 2014 World Cup (18 out of 40). They are also the top assist providers in such competitions among European players over that period (9 assists each).
Since Romelu Lukaku’s first World Cup in 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo (13) is the only European player to have scored more goals than the Belgian striker (11) at major international tournaments.
Roberto Martinez will be just the third manager to take charge of Belgium in more than one Fifa World Cup tournament, after Hector Goetinck (1930 and 1934), and Guy Thys (1982, 1986 and 1990).
Canada’s Cyle Larin was the leading scorer in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying with six goals, while teammate Jonathan David tied for second with five.
John Herdman will become the first manager to coach in both the men’s and women’s Fifa World Cups, having previously taken charge of New Zealand Women (2007, 2011) and Canada Women (2015).