Belgium are preparing to face Egypt in their Group G opener on Monday at the World Cup.

The match will take place at Seattle’s Lumen Field, temporarily renamed Seattle Stadium for the tournament. The highly anticipated Europe versus Africa fixture is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM UK time.

Following a thrilling day of goal-filled action on Sunday, fans can look forward to another exciting contest featuring some of football’s brightest attacking talents. The Red Devils, currently ranked 10th in the FIFA world rankings, will go head-to-head against the Pharaohs, who sit 30th in the global standings.

Belgium, who failed to progress beyond the group stage in Qatar four years ago, arrive at this tournament with renewed optimism under manager Rudi Garcia. His squad boasts a dynamic mix of youth and experience, and they will be aiming for a deep run into the knockout rounds this time.

Egypt, returning to the world stage after missing out on qualification in 2022, will be banking on their talisman Mohamed Salah to lead the charge. The Liverpool forward is expected to feature in what could be his final World Cup appearance.

Belgium’s own Premier League superstar Kevin De Bruyne is also expected to feature tonight, possibly marking his last appearance at this level of international football.

So, who will be officiating this much-anticipated fixture?

The referee for the Belgium vs Egypt match will be Brazilian official Ramon Abatti. The 36-year-old will take charge of the encounter in the north-western United States. Although this is Abatti’s first World Cup, he brings substantial experience to the table, having officiated the 2024 Olympic final between Spain and France at the Parc des Princes.

Abatti also handled matches during last summer’s Club World Cup, including Real Madrid’s victories over Borussia Dortmund and Pachuca, as well as Manchester City’s win against Wydad—a game in which he sent off Rico Lewis.

Supporting Abatti will be an all-South American officiating team. His Brazilian compatriots Danilo Manis and Rafael Alves will serve as assistant referees. Peruvian official Kevin Ortega will act as the fourth official, while fellow Peruvian Michael Orue will serve as the reserve assistant referee.

Lumen Field’s World Cup capacity stands at 66,925. The clash between Belgium and Egypt will set the tone for Group G, with the next fixture between Iran and New Zealand scheduled to take place in Los Angeles shortly after the conclusion of this game.