The Canadian national team returns to participate in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after 36 years of absence, as it faces its Belgian counterpart next Wednesday, with hopes of achieving Canada's first victory in the history of the global tournament.

The Canadian national team's last friendly match before its first game in the tournament against Japan, where the Canadians succeeded in winning 2-1 last Thursday.

Given Canada's only appearance in the 1986 World Cup, which ended without scoring any goals and three defeats in three matches, the team's coach John Herdman sees the tournament in Qatar as a great opportunity for the men's national team to continue making history after an unprecedented undefeated streak in the CONCACAF qualifiers.

Belgium, Canada's first competitor, was ranked by FIFA as the second-best men's national team in the world. Croatia, which Canada faces after Belgium, reached the 2018 World Cup final and ranks 12th in the ranking, and Morocco, Canada's last opponent in the group stage, ranks 22nd. Meanwhile, Canada ranks 41st.