We are under way after both sides have a pre-match huddle and take a knee against racism.

Referee Cuneyt Cakir kicks us off and if you think I'm writing that name again, you've another think coming.

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent

We've just looked at the stats and Romelu Lukaku has more goals than the entire Welsh starting line up.

Wales midfielder Joe Allen hopes to create new memories against Belgium.

Read more from the Welsh Xavi, who is determined to make the most of his European Championships reprieve after a long lay-off with injury.

Full story

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As a player, Roberto Martinez would wear a Welsh flag as his captain's armband.

He tells BBC Sport Wales about his "special memories" of his time in Wales.

Full story

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Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

I'm expecting a really good game, Belgium go in as strong favourites. How you start the qualifying is so important, this is a big game for Wales. If they can come away with a draw and a good performance that's a big bonus before the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Wales' men's team are not the only side hoping for World Cup qualification.

Meet Gemma Grainger, the women hoping to take her Wales team to a first major finals.

The Den Dreef in Leuven is usually the preferred home for the Belgium women's and Belgium Under-21 teams.

Obviously with no fans allowed, the 10,020-capacity stadium - just east of Brussels - has become a home-from-home for the senior men's team.

Image source, Rex Features

Belgium's Welsh fitness chief Richard Evans - the son of former Wales international Brian - admits it will be "strange" to face his home nation in World Cup qualifying.

Evans, from Swansea, has worked alongside Roberto Martinez throughout his managerial career.

Welshman Richard Evans has been by Roberto Martinez's side throughout his managerial career.

BBC Sport Wales reporter Gareth Vincent caught up with him ahead of a very special week for the Welshman with major split loyalties this evening.

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Tony Pulis
Former Stoke manager on BBC Radio 5 Live

Wales have got some fantastic players and tremendous young players in the group. There's a lot of responsibility on Joe Allen and Gareth Bale tonight, there's a lot of youngsters. When they come under pressure they'll need people to calm down and keep them pointing forward.

Gareth Bale is hoping to seize what he believes might be his final chance to qualify for a World Cup - and realise his one remaining burning ambition.

They have not played at a World Cup since 1958 and, at 31, Bale feels time is running out for him to end the wait.

"It would be amazing to play for Wales in a World Cup - that is the dream for me," said the Wales captain.

"We need to give it a really good go and give everything for the country.

"It might be the last time our generation has the chance to qualify for a World Cup.

"It is massive for us and we want to try and take this opportunity to qualify. We haven't done that for a long time."

Read more from the Wales skipper here

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It's not been a great couple of days for Welsh Spurs fans.

First Ben Davies' injury, then this...

Gareth Bale says he plans to return to Real Madrid next season after his loan at Tottenham ends.

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Chris Coleman says Wales can win tonight's opening World Cup qualifier away to favourites Belgium if they match talent to application and belief.

The former Wales manager, 50, oversaw a famous 3-1 win against Belgium in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

But Coleman warned that Wales must play to their full capacity in Leuven this evening.

"If any of the lads are thinking they can go to Belgium and play 90% or even 95% and nick a win, then it's not going to happen," Coleman said.

"So they've got to go 100%, they've got to believe 100%, put themselves on the line and not be afraid to get it wrong.

More here

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

I don't mean to alarm Wales fans but a look at Belgium's stats makes for frightening reading.

Belgium have scored 153 goals in 51 games since Roberto Martinez was appointed manager in 2016.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in competitive home matches since 2010 and, of course, they're ranked number one in the world.

If Wales make it five matches without losing to Belgium tonight, that would be a huge achievement.

• Belgium are top of the Fifa world rankings, while Wales are 18th - but Wales are unbeaten in the four most recent encounters between the teams.
• In six previous meetings in World Cup qualifiers, Wales have beaten Belgium just once (one draw and four defeats), a 2-0 victory in March 1993 with goals from Ryan Giggs and Ian Rush.
• Wales have won their opening group stage match in just five of their 18 World Cup qualifying campaigns, although they've done so in two of the previous three - 1-0 against Azerbaijan in 2008 and 4-0 against Moldova in 2016.
• Belgium have won 23 of their past 24 qualifying matches (European Championships and World Cup), since losing 1-0 to Wales in June 2015.
• Wales have not conceded a goal in their past four competitive away matches, a run of 397 minutes without conceding on the road since a Juraj Kucka goal for Slovakia in October 2019 in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
• Belgium have not lost a home match in qualifying for the European Championships or World Cup since September 2010 against Germany. They are unbeaten in 24 since, winning 18 and drawing six and scoring 87 goals.
• Wales have only lost four of their past 30 qualifying matches for the European Championships or World Cup (15 wins, 11 draws), winning their past two games in their most recent qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 against Azerbaijan and Hungary.
• Belgium's all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku has netted 40 goals in 38 appearances under Roberto Martinez for the national team - 22 more than any other player since Martinez took over in September 2016. Lukaku has 12 goals and four assists in his past 10 appearances for Belgium.

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

There's always a surprise or two when Wales have named their team during the Ryan Giggs era.

The manager is absent at the moment but keeping in touch with his assistant Robert Page, so this is a selection with Giggs' influence.

The most interesting decision is in attack. Kieffer Moore, who has been integral to Wales' recent efforts, has been benched - perhaps partly because of his heavy recent workload with Cardiff City.

It might be viewed as a risk to forego the focal point the physically dominant Moore offers and, in his absence, it looks like attacking midfielder Harry Wilson might play a roaming role.

Whether it's him or Gareth Bale starting centrally or on the right, you'd expect the movement between them to be fluid as they look to pull Belgium's back three out of position. There's also the possibility Wilson will play the 'false nine' role.

Whatever Wilson's position, Wales' chances to attack are bound to be limited tonight.

Good luck to their more defensively-minded players as they aim to contain the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. They could be in for a long night.

Defenders Ben Davies and Tom Lockyer are the latest injury issues for Wales.

David Brooks and Aaron Ramsey were already absent.

You can read a full recap of Wales' injury issues here, if you want to torture yourself...

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Belgium will be playing in white tonight, rather than their home colour of red.

Belgium make two changes from last November’s 4-2 win over Denmark in the Nations League.

Former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen replaces Jason Denayer, while wing-back Thomas Meunier comes in for Nacer Chadli.

De Bruyne, Lukaku, Tielemans, Mertens - that's a formidable looking line-up.

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, T. Hazard; Mertens, De Bruyne; Lukaku.

Image source, BBC Sport