Teams that were dominant in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup meet up in Group F play on Wednesday when Belgium and Canada square off. Belgium didn't lose a game in the European qualifiers, recording six wins and two draws. They outscored opponents 25-6. Canada took the top spot in Concacaf qualifying, outscoring opponents 23-7 as they won eight, lost two and had four draws. This is the 14th World Cup for Belgium, but just the second appearance for Canada after they last appeared in 1986.
Kickoff at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium is set for 2 p.m. ET. Belgium are -185 favorites (risk $185 to win $100) in the latest Belgium vs. Canada odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Canada are +490 underdogs, a draw is priced at +310, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before locking in any Canada vs. Belgium picks or World Cup 2022 predictions, be sure to check out the best bets and analysis from SportsLine soccer expert Brandt Sutton.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for more than five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Sutton also has been on a roll with his best bets, going 148-112-1 over his last 261 soccer picks in 2022, returning more than $2,000 for $100 bettors.
Now, Sutton has broken down the Belgium vs. Canada matchup from all sides and just locked in his 2022 World Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Canada vs. Belgium:
- Belgium vs. Canada spread: Belgium -0.5 (-185)
- Belgium vs. Canada over/under: 2.5 goals
- Belgium vs. Canada money line: Belgium -185, Canada +490, Draw +310
- BEL: They have scored 19 goals in their past 10 competitive matches.
- CAN: They have scored multiple goals in eight of their past 11 overall.
- Belgium vs. Canada picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Belgium
Belgium will miss star striker Romelu Lukaku, who will not dress for this one due to a thigh injury. But they are a balanced squad led by midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who is among the best in the world at his position. He can be a dynamic scorer or facilitator and he'll give Belgium a chance to control possession and tilt the field in their favor.
Canada has some explosive young players, but Belgium appears to have the edge in net. Thibaut Courtois is a star for Real Madrid and he'll be looking to keep a clean sheet with the world spotlight on him. Belgium have more experience on this stage and faced tougher competition getting to Qatar, which should have them well-positioned to earn three points in this one.
Why you should back Canada
The Maple Leafs are excellent on defense and the counter-attack. They had a plus-26 goal differential in four matches against inferior competition in the first stage of World Cup qualifying. They then scored the most goals (23) and conceded the fewest (seven) to finish at the top of the pack. They should be playing with nothing to lose after their 36-year absence, and they should be able to exploit the aging Belgium defense. Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanan are key players in transition, and Cyle Larin and Jonathan David both have strong finishing ability.
Davies is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered with Bayern Munich and could miss out. But David has 22 goals in just 35 international matches and is tied for fourth in France's Ligue 1 with nine this season. Larin has 25 in 55 games with Canada, and he and Buchanon are teammates with Club Brugge in the Belgian First Division, so they shouldn't need any time to acclimate. The team lacks big-game experience, but FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, Larin, David and Davies all play in major leagues abroad and have appeared in the Champions League.
How to make Canada vs. Belgium picks
Sutton has analyzed the Canada vs. Belgium match from all sides, and he has released his confident best bet and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing those picks here.
So where does all the value lie in Belgium vs. Canada in Wednesday's Group F World Cup match? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Canada vs. Belgium, all from the soccer expert who is up more than $2,000 on his soccer picks in 2022, and find out.
