That's all for the live text commentary for this match. Until next time, goodbye.
Belgium face Morocco next in a game that kicks off on Sunday. Canada play Croatia shortly afterwards.
Belgium kick their World Cup campaign off with a victory. Canada started brightly and even had a Davies penalty saved in the first half only for Batshuayi to fire Belgium into the lead shortly before half-time. His team then took control of the game in the second half to see out an impressive victory against a talented side.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: BELGIUM 1-0 CANADA
90' + 3' Canada look like they've run out of legs, here, while Belgium try to kill the game.
90' There will be five minutes of additional time at the end of this second half.
88' Vertonghen does well to clean up at the back for Belgium amid a threatening situation.
86' De Bruyne drives inside from the left and shoots from distance, but his effort is high and wide.
85' De Bruyne takes the resulting free-kick only for Dendoncker's header to fly over the bar.
A. Johnston
Yellow Card
83' Johnston has been booked after a reckless challenge on Openda.
A. Davies
Yellow Card
81' Davies has been booked after catching Trossard late.
L. Millar
T. Buchanan
81' Buchanan makes way for Millar as Canada chase the game.
J. Osorio
S. Eustáquio
81' Osorio has replaced Eustaquio to bring fresh legs into midfield.
80' CHANCE! Courtois does superbly to save from David, who had directed a threatening header toward him after a fine ball in from the right.
L. Openda
M. Batshuayi
78' Openda has come on for Batshuayi, the goalscorer.
76' Canada are pushing to get back into the game but they've lost the spark of that first half.
S. Adekugbe
R. Laryea
74' Adekugbe has replaced Laryea to play left-back.
72' Canada are just lacking that quality in the final third.
70' Onana has made a big difference since coming on at half-time.
68' CHANCE! De Bruyne bounds down the right flank before squaring the ball for Batshuayi, only for Laryea to make an integral block.
66' Onana carries the ball forward superbly only to miscontrol it at the last minute after riding a challenge.
64' Trossard makes an immediate impact by helping to win a corner for Belgium, only for it to come to nothing.
L. Trossard
E. Hazard
62' Trossard replaces Hazard to bring dynamism to the wide areas.
60' Eustaquio whips in another free-kick only for it run out of play.
I. Koné
A. Hutchinson
58' Kone comes in for Hutchinson in midfield.
C. Larin
J. Hoilett
58' Larin replaces the veteran Hoilett to bring energy out wide.
A. Onana
Yellow Card
56' Onana is issued a yellow card after catching Eustaquio with a stray elbow.
54' Eustaquio takes the resulting free-kick only for his pass to fail to pick out anyone and run out for a goal kick.
T. Meunier
Yellow Card
53' Meunier is booked after catching Hoilett with a leading elbow.
52' Onana tries to pick out Castagne with a ball to the back post only for it to run out of play.
50' Eustaquio tries his luck with a shot from distance only for his effort to drag wide.
48' CHANCE! Eustaquio does superbly to pick David out with a ball to the back post only for the striker's header to fail to hit the target.
48' Onana is warned by the referee after tangling with Davies.
46' We're back underway here in Qatar.
A. Onana
Y. Tielemans
46' Onana has come in for Tielemans in midfield to inject strength into the engine room.
T. Meunier
Y. Carrasco
46' Meunier has replaced Carrasco for something new on the right flank.
Belgium will look to recalibrate and begin the second half more like their usual selves. Canada, disappointed to be behind and to have missed a penalty through Davies, will be looking for more of the same and for a break to fall their way.
Belgium lead at the break but it's fair to say that they're fortunate to do so. Canada have been the better side, playing with adventure and intent and exposing their opponent's defensive frailties. But Belgium are ahead at half-time thanks to a moment of quality from Batshuayi, who scored following a fine ball from Alderweireld.
45' + 5' HALF-TIME: BELGIUM 1-0 CANADA
45' + 3' CHANCE! Laryea does well to square the ball across the face of goal for Buchanan, but the forward is unable to control his effort and fails to hit the target.
45' There will be five minutes of additional time at the end of this first half.
T. Alderweireld
Assist
44' Alderweireld's pass was absolutely inch-perfect for Batshuayi.
M. Batshuayi
Goal
44' GOAL! Belgium take the lead through Batshuayi. Alderweireld lifts a perfect ball into the frontman from deep, who follows the pass and waits for his opportunity to present itself before burying his finish into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0 to Belgium.
42' The Belgian players are clearly in communication with each other, trying to sort themselves out organisationally.
40' A quick VAR check on the aforementioned incident comes to nothing.
38' Laryea goes down inside the box after a collision with Witsel but the referee says no penalty.
36' Davies, driving infield from his position at left-back, is causing Belgium a whole host of problems.
34' Canada are fearless, here. They're the ones playing with the most invention.
32' Davies leaves Tielemans on his backside with a lovely piece of skill.
32' Buchanan picks out David, whose shot from close range is blocked down by Vertonghen.
30' Johnston tries his luck with a quickly-taken shot from inside the box but Courtois saves easily.
28' Belgium look to have recovered from their wobble.
26' Castagne is nearly picked out with a superb cross-field ball, only for Davies to get a touch on it and deflect it clear.
24' CHANCE! Hazard and Tielemens combine superbly before funnelling the ball out wide right to Batshuayi, only for the forward's effort to be pushed wide for a corner kick that eventually comes to nothing.
22' Canada, in trying to win the ball back quickly, have conceded a succession of fouls.
20' De Bruyne and Hazard are doing their best to get on the ball more to help Belgium advance into Canada's half.
18' Belgium are seeking to kill Canada's momentum by slowing down the pace of play for a while.
16' Hoilett comes in off the right flank before getting on his left foot and shooting, only for his effort to fly wide.
14' Canada smell blood here. Belgium look rattled and unsure of themselves in defence.
12' Laryea fires a quickly-taken shot on goal only to see it flash wide of the post.
A. Davies
Penalty Miss
10' SAVED! Davies went to his left but Courtois was equal to his effort.
T. Courtois
Penalty Save
10' SAVED! Courtois saves Davies' penalty after guessing correctly to his right.
Y. Carrasco
Yellow Card
9' PENALTY! The referee has booked Carrasco for handball in the box and given a penalty to Canada.
8' CHANCE! Buchanan wins a corner and then nearly scores from it, only to see his volleyed effort dealt with by Belgium.
6' Belgium are setting the tone and seeing the majority of the ball in these early stages.
4' Every loose ball is being hotly contested here.
2' CHANCE! Canada give the ball away cheaply to Batshuayi, who draws an early save from Borjan in Canada's goal.
1' We're underway here in Qatar.
Belgium were the top scoring side at the Russia 2018. They found the net 16 times on their way to a third-place finish.
No European team has qualified for as many World Cups as Belgium without ever winning it. This is their 14th appearance.
This is the first encounter between Belgium and Canada at the World Cup. Their only previous meeting was a June 1989 friendly in Ottawa – Belgium won 2-0.
CANADA SUBS: Dayne St. Clair, James Pantemis, Sam Adekugbe, Samuel Piette, Liam Fraser, Lucas Cavallini, Ike Ugbo, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ismael Kone, Cyle Larin, Jonathan Osorio, Liam Millar, David Wotherspoon, Derek Cornelius, Joel Waterman.
CANADA (3-4-2-1): Milan Borjan; Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller; Junior Hoilett, Atiba Hutchinson, Stephen Eustaquio, Richie Laryea; Tajon Buchanan, Alphonso Davies; Jonathan David.
BELGIUM SUBS: Simon Mignolet, Koen Casteels, Arthur Theatre, Wout Faes, Dries Mertens, Thomas Meunier, Thorgan Hazard, Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana, Hans Vanaken, Charles de Ketelere, Lois Openda, Jeremy Doku, Zeno Debast.
BELGIUM (3-4-2-1): Thibaut Courtois; Leander Dendoncker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen; Timothy Castagne, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco; Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard; Michy Batshuayi.
Canada made it to Qatar 2022 after winning CONCACAF Qualifying. They took 28 points from 14 games, finishing ahead of Mexico, the USA, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, El Salvador and Honduras.
Belgium qualified for the World Cup by topping Group E in European Qualifying. They took 20 points from eight games and finished ahead of Wales, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Belarus.
Hello and welcome to the live text commentary of the World Cup clash between Belgium and Canada.
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