FIFA World Cup: New Zealand vs. Belgium at B.C. Place. Live updates here.

Composite image: Belgium’s Jeremy Doku (Associated Press/Lindsey Wasson), Science World (Associated Press/Abbie Parr), New Zealand fans (The Canadian Press/Timothy Matwey).

New Zealand and Belgium are facing off at B.C. Place for Vancouver’s fifth of seven FIFA World Cup games.

• LIVE on TSN.CA: Canada vs. Switzerland (subscribe to watch)
• Where to watch FIFA World Cup matches in Metro Vancouver
• A look at the seven World Cup games to be played at Vancouver’s BC Place

Neither team has won a match so far, with Belgium entering the game with two points and New Zealand with one.

Belgium is currently 10th in the FIFA rankings, while New Zealand is 84^th—making it one of the lowest-ranked among World Cup participants.

A win would be a historic first for the All Whites.

Follow along here for live updates throughout the game and after the final whistle.

11:50 a.m. PT: Belgian fans ready to put on the pressure

Belgium drew 1-1 in their first match against Egypt in Seattle and it was a 0-0 with Iran in Los Angeles. It needs to at least draw against New Zealand Friday to move on, and New Zealand needs a win to make it through the group stage.

Red Devils fans Michael and Yoshi told CTV News the pressure is certainly on.

“If we lose, it’s over. We’re not supposed to lose, but still it can happen and it makes us nervous,” Michael said.

“Fans are putting pressure on the players. I hope that there will be a little changes to the team as well, because the previous games were not good,” he continued. “The quality is there, and we are supposed to even win the group, but so far we didn’t even win a game. So let’s hope the pressure is not too much, and we can get the victory tonight.”

Kaija Jussinoja, CTVNewsVancouver.ca

11:30 a.m. PT: Mom-son duo a World Cup first

When New Zealand player Tyler Bindon takes the field tonight, his mother will be watching from the stands and will know first-hand the pressure he is feeling in the moment.

Jenny Bindon represented New Zealand at both the 2007 and 2011 Women’s World Cups. Her 21-year-old son’s entry into the tournament last week made history as the World Cup’s first ever mother-son duo.

“It’s a pretty surreal moment,” Bindon told CTV News on Friday. “We’re happy for him to have this opportunity to be able to be here in Canada to follow his dreams.”

New Zealand is currently 84th in FIFA rankings. Getting a win against the 10^th-ranked Belgium will not be easy.

Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca

9 a.m. PT: Can you bring an umbrella?

With rain in the forecast Friday, fans should know there are restrictions around umbrellas at Vancouver’s official FIFA World Cup venues.

B.C. Place has confirmed that small personal umbrellas are allowed—but larger ones, such as beach umbrellas and golf umbrellas, are not.

The website for the FIFA Fan Festival in East Vancouver lists umbrellas as prohibited, along with blankets, lawn chairs and coolers.

Umbrellas are encouraged during rainy days at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.

Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca

8 a.m. PT: Road closures return

As with previous FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver, there will be road closures in effect as a result of Friday’s match between New Zealand and Belgium.

The stretch of Granville Street between Davie and Georgia streets—which was transformed into a pedestrian zone for the entirety of the tournament—remains closed to traffic as well.

TransLink service changes have been implemented to make it easier for people to get around on transit in the meantime.

Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca

6:15 a.m. PT: Pre-match events sold out

The Flying Kiwis—the New Zealand supporters’ club—had already sold out two pre-match events the day before Friday’s game, at Blarney Stone and Portside.

Organizers have since opened up tickets to a third venue.

“Connect, share and have a singalong with kiwis from around the world and we’ll have an amazing day,” the invite reads.

Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca

New Zealand a win away from first knockout berth

The All Whites are hoping to beat the odds Friday, with a win against Belgium positioning the team to potentially advance out of the group stage.

A win—paired with Egypt and Iran playing to a draw—would put New Zealand second in Group G, and therefore the knockout rounds.

“We’re now in a game where we win, we go through,” coach Darren Bazeley said Thursday.

The Associated Press

Belgian team arrives at VYR

The Belgium national football team—known as the Red Devils—arrived Thursday at Vancouver International Airport.

The squad, which finished third in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, drew against Egypt and Iran during its first two matches of the tournament.

Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca