Image source, Opta

Did Thibaut Courtois do his homework on Alphonso Davies?

Canada's man on the spot had put his two previous international penalties to the goalkeeper's right, scoring both times.

No net ripple this time around.

Jim: If Courtois goes the other way, we’d be reading what a cool, calm penalty that was. Just saying.

That wasn't a great penalty but Courtois saves his side's blushes by diving across his line to keep it out.

Belgium are all over the place.

Incredible scenes. A huge scramble inside the Belgium box. Did Yannick Carrasco handle the ball?

The referee is instructed to look at a replay before returning to the pitch to point at the spot.

A huge roar goes up around the ground.

Oh my word! Penalty to Canada?

Image source, Getty Images

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC One

This game is set up for a surprise. This is an older Belgium squad, who is going to score the goals?

You look at Canada, they have the legs, the running in behind, the youth. That can cause you a lot of problems.

Yannick Carrasco has his pocket picked and Canada are on the charge. The move ends with Jonathan David poking just wide. The referee awards a corner much to Belgium's dismay.

Canada are ranked 41st in the world - 39 places below Belgium. But they have started in confident fashion. They're certainly not here just to make up the numbers.

John: Incredible ball of nerves while at work here in Calgary…36 years of wait is almost over. How do all y’all who qualify for World Cups regularly handle the nerves? Asking for a nation.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC One

Canada have started this game well, apart from that square ball, Alphonso Davies looks sharp on this left hand side and they want to run at people.

Image source, Getty Images

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

You cannot make mistakes like that against a team like Belgium.

What a start!

Michy Batshuayi's attempt came inside the opening minute and Canada respond immediately with a tidy move of their own which ends with a shot being blocked inside the box.

Canada get the game under way but they are forced deep into their own half by Belgium's high press.

A poor ball straight to Michy Batshuayi allows the Belgian to have a pop. It's a comfortable save for the keeper.

Argentina embarrassed by Saudi Arabia. Germany brought to their knees by Japan. Canada...they couldn't, could they?

Away we go.

Image source, Getty Images

Wow. That Belgium starting XI is sprinkled with star dust.

Vincent Kompany
Belgium and Manchester City captain on BBC One

Kevin de Bruyne just brings a smile to my face, becoming this man and personality in world football. He is a very humble guy who knows what he wants and he's not a pushover.

He's got a hidden side to him where he is actually overly competitive. He doesn't show it every day but he is very competitive.

To captain him is easy, just give the ball to Kevin. Him and Pep Guardiola were the perfect match, there is no other way to describe it. His football brain impresses me the most and obviously if you work with Pep those two things just work.

It's the first time the Canadian national anthem has been heard at the men's World Cup for years and years. Boy, their players are singing it with some gusto.

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC One

Alphonso Davies is a beacon of light for his nation, for all the young kids. It's his talent that is the overriding factor. For all the charisma you see on TikTok, this kid can play football. He came over, some maybe raised eyebrows but he quickly proved how capable is.

The pace is the first thing that jumps out at you. He has got the vision, the guile, the decision-making on his side. He plays more of a forward, more attacking role for Canada.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Canada's progress to Qatar was smoother on the field than off it.

A dispute in June over payments forced a friendly with Panama to be scrapped at short notice and while matches have taken place since, the relationship between Herdman and his squad and Canada Soccer remains uneasy.

For anything to take the focus away from Herdman's squad is a shame.

That he switched from the women's team to the men's was hugely controversial in Canada. To then declare a belief his team would qualify for Qatar was bold.