Belgium v Egypt LIVE: Team news and updates as Mohamed Salah expected to lead Pharaohs

On paper, this group should not rattle many cages. Belgium should emerge as comfortable group winners, followed by one of Iran or Egypt, with the lowest-ranked team at this year’s World Cup, New Zealand, coming last. Yet the hard facts are that, frankly, this group will play host to the most significant early encounters at this summer’s tournament, amid an unprecedented scenario in international football.

For the first time in the World Cup’s 96-year history, a competing nation is participating despite being at war with a co-host. The conflict between Iran and the United States, which officially started in late February, shows no signs of relenting despite numerous peace talks and proposals. As such, Iran have moved their base to Mexico and their playing squad have only been given visas to the US (with two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle) for the day of the game. Fly in, play, fly out.

Belgium versus Egypt is the first game from Group G and takes place at the Seattle Stadium over on the United States’ west coast.

The match kicks off at 8pm BST and will be broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom with coverage beginning at 7.30pm.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s World Cup action as Belgium and Egypt clash in the Group G opener.

This is a encounter which should fascinate supporters and could determine which team finishes at the top of the group.

Group G also hosts Iran and New Zealand so these two teams are the favourites to progress at the top of the table.

Kevin de Bruyne and Mo Salah will face each other one more harking back to their clashes when they played for Man City and Liverpool respectively.

We’ll see how this all plays out when the game kicks off at 8pm.