In the final preparations before the biggest football event, the Belgian and Canadian national teams boosted their morale with important victories in international friendlies as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Belgium defeated Croatia, while Canada, one of the tournament's hosts, triumphed over Uzbekistan, providing both teams with valuable rehearsals before the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Details of the victories and crucial goals
In a high-stakes match held at the Rujevica Stadium in Rijeka, Croatia, the Belgian national team asserted its dominance with a well-deserved 2-0 victory over its Croatian host. Midfielder Youri Tielemans opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the 38th minute, before veteran striker Romelu Lukaku added the second goal in stoppage time (90+6), securing a significant morale-boosting win for his country against the 2018 World Cup runners-up. This victory sends a strong message to Belgium's rivals in Group G, which includes Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand.
Across the Atlantic, Canada capitalized on home advantage to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The goals came in the second half, with Jonathan Osorio opening the scoring in the 58th minute and Jayden Nelson sealing the win in stoppage time (90+1). This victory for the Maple Leafs, who are aiming for a respectable showing as one of the tournament's hosts, sealed the win for the host nation.
The importance of friendly matches in preparations for the 2026 World Cup
These friendly matches are of exceptional importance as they represent the final preparatory stage for the teams participating in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held for the first time with 48 teams. These encounters offer a golden opportunity for coaches to test tactical plans, assess the players' technical and physical readiness, and experiment with new players before announcing their final squads. These matches also contribute to improving team cohesion and fostering a positive competitive spirit within the team before the official competitions begin. For teams like Belgium, a victory against a strong opponent like Croatia would boost confidence, while for Canada, achieving a positive result on home soil would provide a tremendous morale boost before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland in the group stage.
